The Indonesian government launches mobile apps to digitally empower farmers
Indonesian President Joko Widodo and communications and information minister Rudiantara recently launched mobile apps that would help farmers in the Central Java town of Brebes to digitise their interaction with consumers.
Among the apps launched were Petani, TaniHub, LimaKilo.id, Pantau Harga and Nurnaya Initiative, developed by local start-up technology companies. These aim to give farmers easier access to information about crops, prices, farming equipment and even farming counselling.
The apps provide a large range of services to farmers. The app Petani allows farmers to access information about farming equipment stores, farming training, agricultural news and online market places for selling their crops. The Pantau Harga app on the other hand can be used to compare commodity prices in other cities.
One of the immediate benefits of the apps will be that farmers will have access to extra information and this will empower them while negotiating with traders. Without access to information, farmers have for long been easy prey for middlemen.
Joko pointed out how the price of shallots for consumers is almost double the amount paid to farmers in Brebes. The apps are a step towards eliminating this inequality.
