For the benefit of young farmers in three thriving nations, a workshop and study visit on Smart Farm Technology Smart Choice of Young Farmer Project was recently organised under Indonesia-Malaysia-Thailand Growth Triangle (IMT-GT) to attract the young generation into agriculture industry and to ensure continuity of food supply in the Southeast Asia. Involving in total of 34 officers and 30 farmers from the three neighbouring countries, the program was held from 12th to 16th June 2023 in Surat Thani Province, Thailand, instituting the concept of smart farm and elevating the current operation design and technology in agriculture industry.
Representing Malaysia, the officials involved were Ms. Hazlin Arini Binti Kamaruddin from Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, Ms. Rohani Binti Mohammad Isa from Department of Agriculture, Ms. Nurasmalaily Binti Yusof from Malaysian Rubber Board, Ms. Ernie Binti Omar from Farmers Organization Authority and Mr. Benyamin Bin Rosli from Ministry of Plantation and Commodities, alongside seven Malaysian young farmers. From Indonesia in particular, accompanying nine Indonesian farmers were Mrs. Tsarwah binti Adlan and Ir. Zulkifli Annoor Hasibuan, M.Agr from Department of Plantation and Animal Husbandry in North Sumatra Province, Mrs. Aniek Rahmah Sulaeman from Indonesian Agency for Agricultural Extension and HRD, Ministry of Agriculture, as well as Mr. Retmono Agung Winarno from Indonesian Agricultural Development Polytechnic, Medan. Meanwhile representing the host country, fourteen Thai farmers were joined by Dr. Pachirarat Pechcho, Ms. Wichanee Sriurai and Ms. Rattakorn Wuttiboon from Department of Agricultural Extension (DOAE), alongside officers from Songkhla, Chumphon, Ranong, Krabi, Phangnga, Phuket, Suratthani, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Trang, Phatthalung, Satun, Pattani, Yala, and Narathiwat province.
Led by Thailand’s Department of Agricultural Extension (DOAE), the first two days of the program was mainly scheduled to introduce the future plans of each participating country following the application of smart farm system, as well as to equip the participants with sufficient theoretical knowledge on smart farm technology including the system nature and its management. This includes consultation meeting for participating coordinators, program briefing, country report presentations from each country representative and smart farm management presentations by Prince of Songkla University (representing Thai academic sector), Smart Farm company (representing Thai private sector) and representative of Thai farms.
The highlight of the program was however the site visits (study visit) to several smart farms, demonstrating different applications and aspects of smart farm system and technology through different types of plantation and planting approach on June 14th and 15th. The smart farm system was firstly and physically introduced to the participants through greenhouse melon production at Bunnak Farm. They were then taken to observe organic vegetables production at Saint’s Farm Organic and anthurium production for export purposes at Inspire Anthurium. On June 15th, the study visit continued at Salaartit Farm, allowing participants to witness irrigation system in motion through salacca farming and processing. The participants also had a chance to learn about integrated pest management before their cultural show and farewell event that night.
Before officially wrapping up the program on June 16th, the participants were brought together to discuss and present their learning outcomes, as well as formulating future work plans. The program successfully ended that afternoon after program summarisation and evaluation, and all participants depart for their respective home countries bringing new and innovative knowledge for the improvement of the future agriculture industry.
