The Speaker of the Regional Representatives Council (DPD), A. A. LaNyalla Mahmud Mattalitti, has encouraged the empowerment of farmers through harnessing technological innovations, in a bid to develop agricultural cultivation in the 4.0 era.

“In this 4.0 era, agriculture must adapt to technology. Technology must be used in order to develop agricultural cultivation,” he said in a press release here on Saturday.

Mattalitti, during the council’s recess in East Java, said that the use of technology in the agricultural sector must be able to support the national agricultural development goals, which include providing food for all Indonesians, increasing the welfare of farmers, and boosting exports.

“Technology must bring benefits, not only for the national agricultural development goals but also for farmers,” he noted.

The DPD speaker noted that one of the supporting factors that can boost marketing is product innovation, in terms of taste, shape, and size of products.

“In addition to opening new markets, innovation of a product also provides choices for consumers,” he said.

To this end, Mattalitti voiced support for the development of commodity products, carried out by the technical implementation unit (UPT) of the Development of Agribusiness for Food Crops and Horticulture (PATPH) in Lebo Village, Sidoarjo District, East Java Province.

In the past, the unit produced square-shaped and heart-shaped melons.

“With food technology, innovations can be made to produce various models, sizes, shapes, and flavors that can attract people and increase competitiveness,” he said.

He also said that innovation continue to be developed, so that farmers can receive added value from using technology.

“Farmers must get added value from every technological innovation made,” he noted.

Source: Antara News