In the heart of Bandung City, Indonesia, a silent revolution is brewing, not in the bustling streets, but in the minds of Agricultural Extension Officers (AEOs) who are the backbone of the city’s food security. A recent study published in *Agritech* has shed light on their readiness to embrace digital transformation, a crucial step in the evolution of the city’s “Buruan Sae” program, a leading initiative tackling food security, especially during the pandemic.
The “Buruan Sae” program, which encourages urban farming, is on the cusp of digitization. But before this leap, understanding the readiness of those who will implement it is vital. The study, led by Parman Sukarno from the School of Computing at Telkom University, used the Technology Readiness Index (TRI) Model to gauge the AEOs’ preparedness.
The results were promising. The AEOs scored a TRI value of 3.365, placing them in the “Medium Technology Readiness” group. This means they are neither too resistant nor too eager, but somewhere in the balanced middle. “The majority of extension officers will accept the technology quickly,” Sukarno noted, pointing to the 37.5% of AEOs who fall into the ‘Explorers’ group, those eager to embrace new technologies. Moreover, the absence of a ‘Laggards’ group indicates that no part of the population completely resists technological change.
This readiness is not just about embracing new tools; it’s about enhancing efficiency, improving data management, and ultimately, boosting food security. For the agriculture sector, this could mean more streamlined operations, better resource allocation, and increased productivity. As Sukarno puts it, “The results are expected to become a fundamental basis for the Department of Food and Agriculture to achieve digital transformation.”
The study’s findings could shape future developments in agricultural extension services, not just in Bandung, but potentially across Indonesia and beyond. As the world grapples with food security challenges exacerbated by climate change and population growth, digitization could be a game-changer. It could empower AEOs to serve their communities better, ensuring that everyone has access to fresh, locally-grown food.
In the words of Sukarno, “This program will continue to be the main answer to every community’s problem of food and agriculture.” With the digital transformation on the horizon, the “Buruan Sae” program could set a precedent for urban farming initiatives worldwide, proving that technology and agriculture can grow together.