Getting Farmers Online-savvy
The importance of Indonesia’s agriculture sector is reflected, among others, by the sector’s 13.8 percent contribution to the total gross domestic product, according to February 2017 data from the Central Statistics Agency. In spite of agriculture’s significance to the Indonesian economy, our farmers are still far from prosperous. The government is now encouraging the growth of agriculture startups to improve the welfare of farmers, in line with the government’s plan to make Indonesia the largest digital economy in Southeast Asia by 2022. Agriculture startup companies, referred to as ‘agritech’ or ‘ag-tech’ companies, are now starting to sprout. iGrow, an agritech startup, empowers farmers through partnership with sponsors, while Sikumis is working to eliminate brokers to allow direct market access for farmers. To commemorate World Food Day on October 16, Tempo English reports.
October 9, 2017
Farmville in Practice
iGrow is introducing startups to farmers, winning the company first prize in the 2014 Startup Arena competition. The company has established a farming school for fresh university graduates.
Like the online game Farmville, iGrow entices potential investors and their farmer partners. On the Facebook game, players are a given real-time agriculture simulation, from purchasing land, seed and fertilizer, cultivating plants and
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