In the heart of Bali, a quiet revolution is taking root, one that promises to reshape the way small-scale farmers interact with technology. I Wayan Aditya Suranata, a researcher from Universitas Pendidikan Nasional, has developed UDAWA Gadadar, an open-source intelligent system designed to bring the benefits of digitalization to small-scale horticulture greenhouses. This innovation, detailed in a recent study published in *Jurnal RESTI (Rekayasa Sistem dan Teknologi Informasi)*, or the *Journal of Systems and Information Technology Engineering*, could be a game-changer for farmers who have long struggled to adopt digital technologies due to cost and complexity.
UDAWA, which stands for Universal Digital Agriculture Workflow Assistant, is a cyber-physical agent that controls and monitors greenhouse instruments with remarkable efficiency. Built using a 5C architecture approach and farmer-centric design thinking, the system leverages an ESP32 microcontroller and a power sensor module to ensure optimal performance and energy efficiency. “The goal was to create a system that is not only technologically advanced but also accessible and practical for small-scale farmers,” Suranata explains. This focus on affordability and usability is evident in the cost analysis, which shows that the total component cost per unit is just USD 33.7, making it a viable option for resource-constrained farmers.
The UDAWA Gadadar prototype was tested in a small-scale greenhouse, yielding promising results. With an average remaining memory of 175 KB in non-SSL mode and 122 KB in SSL mode, the system demonstrated its capability to operate efficiently under different conditions. To assess its potential for adoption, a decision matrix analysis was conducted involving five different greenhouse models in Pancasari Village, Buleleng Regency, Bali. The results showed that UDAWA Gadadar has high relevance and potential, particularly in models GH3 and GH5, with compatibility scores of 0.27.
The implications of this research extend beyond the agricultural sector. The development of UDAWA Gadadar highlights the potential for open-source, intelligent systems to drive digitalization in small-scale industries, offering a blueprint for similar innovations in other sectors. “This is just the beginning,” Suranata notes. “Future work will focus on developing other physical agent variants and a digital twin for enhanced cultivation simulations, which could further revolutionize small-scale agriculture.”
As the world grapples with the challenges of climate change and resource scarcity, innovations like UDAWA Gadadar offer a beacon of hope. By making digital technologies more accessible and affordable, this research paves the way for a more sustainable and efficient future in agriculture. The study, published in *Jurnal RESTI*, serves as a testament to the power of innovative thinking and the potential for technology to transform traditional practices. As Suranata and his team continue to refine and expand the UDAWA platform, the agricultural landscape in Bali and beyond may never be the same.