Jakarta (05/01) – Property developer company PT Intiland Development Tbk (Intiland; DILD) is supporting the growth of the national agricultural industry, aligning with the Government’s efforts to boost this sector. This support is materialized through Intiland’s collaboration with Saltware Co. Ltd. (Saltware) in implementing smart farming technology on several productive lands owned by Intiland. The collaboration was symbolically marked by the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Intiland and Saltware at the Presidential Staff Office, Bina Graha Building, Jakarta, on Friday (5/1), witnessed by The Chief of Staff to the President and Chairman of the Indonesian Farmers Association (HKTI) General (ret.) Dr. Moeldoko.
Hendro S. Gondokusumo, the Founder and CEO of PT Intiland Development Tbk, believes that the agricultural sector is not only the backbone of the nation’s food but also plays a significant role in the economy. Therefore, Hendro mentioned Intiland’s contribution as a property developer in supporting the agrarian sector by providing optimal land for agricultural productivity.
“By integrating land development with agriculture, Intiland is not only enhancing agricultural productivity but also supporting job creation, local economic growth, and national food self-sufficiency. Agricultural industry players can utilize existing land sustainably, including employing modern technology to maximize agricultural yields,” said Hendro S. Gondokusumo after the MoU signing event.
Dr. Lee Jeong Kun, Chairman, Founder, and CEO of Saltware, expressed a similar opinion. He stated that high-value crop cultivation like strawberries in Indonesia could utilize smart farming combined with Korean IT technology.
“If the pilot cultivation is successful, we plan to spread the standard strawberry smart farm model to all regions of Indonesia, allowing many Indonesian people to taste delicious Korean strawberries,” said Dr. Lee Jeong Kun.
Saltware, a South Korean public company in the technology sector, has a portfolio including cloud service, infrastructure service, enterprise portal, and digital farming. Saltware has been instrumental in creating advanced solutions for agriculture using integrated Internet of Things (IoT) technology.
Generally, IoT technology aids farmers in monitoring real-time environmental conditions, providing detailed information on humidity levels, temperature, and soil conditions. With this accurate information, farmers can adjust water usage more efficiently, reducing its consumption without compromising plant health.
“This advantage not only reduces water usage costs but also supports essential water resource conservation in hot climatic areas,” said Dr. Lee Jeong Kun.
Dr. Lee Jeong Kun further added that one of Saltware’s business services is developing technology for smart farming, utilizing Artificial Intelligence (AI) software in the agricultural sector. The aim of smart farming development is to assist in optimal crop cultivation processes and maximize product yields. Partnering with Intiland is expected to increase technology penetration and outsourcing processes in the Southeast Asian region, especially in Indonesia.
The two companies plan to set up a pilot smart farm in Indonesia, with the aim of identifying potential issues with strawberry cultivation ahead of time and promote trial cultivation. They also intend to produce virus-free strawberry seedlings in plant factories with automated control technology under LED artificial lights, Additionally, they will build greenhouse for the trial cultivation of strawberries in Indonesia.
Through such pilot cultivation, they announced plans to develop a standard model for strawberry greenhouses in Indonesia. This includes determining the optimal geographical location for strawberry cultivation and managing of heating and cooling systems. The model would then be jointly distributed not only in Indonesia but also in Southeast Asia regions such as Singapore and Malaysia.
The MOU between Korea’s Saltware and Indonesia’s Intiland is part of a project aimed at promoting agricultural technology exchange between Korea and Indonesia. In Indonesia, not only strawberries but also main crops such as rice and corn for self-sufficiency demand cooperation with saltware. To achieve this, the two companies have agreed to progress the project in stages, differentiating short-term and long-term crop projects.
According to Hendro S. Gondokusumo, the smart farming development collaboration with Saltware is part of Intiland’s business growth strategy. Through this partnership, the company can increase the value of assets from the land and buildings it owns. This expansion also represents Intiland’s contribution to supporting the Government’s program in strengthening national food security.
“Intiland’s main business remains in the property sector. This collaboration is more a form of commitment and contribution from us to strengthen food security through technology utilization and to enhance the value of the land and buildings we have owned,” expressed Hendro S. Gondokusumo.
The smart farming development collaboration between Intiland and Saltware is planned to be executed gradually. As an initial pilot project, both companies will conduct smart farming development trials for strawberry cultivation in Intiland’s development projects.
Intiland and Saltware will establish joint operational cooperation to formulate plans for implementing smart farming, methods for cultivating strawberries and other food crops, and subsequent strategic plans. This collaboration is a progressive step in supporting the transformation of the agricultural sector in Indonesia through technology utilization as a key element in achieving food security and sustainable economic growth.
Challenges Ahead
Based on studies by several institutions, it is known that the productivity issues of agricultural land have become a primary focus in Indonesia. Its significant impact on increasing food demand alongside population growth is considered a serious challenge.
The conversion of land from agriculture to property or industrial use has somewhat affected local and national food availability. The role of information technology utilization is crucial in driving innovation in the agricultural sector.
“As the Government has expressed, agricultural transformation is the key solution to address the regeneration challenges faced by farmers, which currently pose a threat to the agricultural sector. Considering this situation, we support the Government’s efforts to involve the younger generation in the transformation process by leveraging artificial intelligence and modern technology as a new foundation in agriculture,” said Hendro S. Gondokusumo.
The utilization of digital technology, especially in producing and assembling new varieties, has rapidly evolved as an effort to counter climate change that can reduce land productivity. The need for modern approaches like smart farming is increasingly urgent in changing the pattern of agricultural land use. The paradigm shift from conventional farming to technology-driven approaches like IoT and AI is believed to be the key to the future of the national agricultural sector.