Adapting to smart farming: Communication media and local knowledge in overcoming technical challenges

Smart farming has great potential for improving agricultural productivity and addressing global food security. However, the adoption of these technologies remains a challenge, particularly for smallholder farmers in developing countries. This study investigates the technical challenges faced by farm...

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Main Authors: Rasmira Rasmira, Lubis Djuara P., Sumardjo Sumardjo, Fatchiya Anna, Supriyanto Supriyanto
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: EDP Sciences 2025-01-01
Series:BIO Web of Conferences
Online Access:https://www.bio-conferences.org/articles/bioconf/pdf/2025/22/bioconf_fisaed2025_04007.pdf
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author Rasmira Rasmira
Lubis Djuara P.
Sumardjo Sumardjo
Fatchiya Anna
Supriyanto Supriyanto
author_facet Rasmira Rasmira
Lubis Djuara P.
Sumardjo Sumardjo
Fatchiya Anna
Supriyanto Supriyanto
author_sort Rasmira Rasmira
collection DOAJ
description Smart farming has great potential for improving agricultural productivity and addressing global food security. However, the adoption of these technologies remains a challenge, particularly for smallholder farmers in developing countries. This study investigates the technical challenges faced by farmers in West Java, Indonesia, in adopting smart farming and explores how communication media and local knowledge facilitate adaptation. Using a qualitative approach, data were collected through in-depth interviews and field observations of seven participants, including farmers who had used smart farming for horticultural crop management, agricultural extension workers, and representatives of smart farming technology vendor companies in Subang Regency, West Bandung Regency, Bogor City, and Sumedang Regency. The study findings revealed that limited infrastructure, extreme climate variation, limited land availability, uneven nutrient distribution, suboptimal sensor performance, component damage, complex tool calibration, and limited technical support are the major technical barriers. Farmers overcome this challenge using communication media to exchange experiences, access information for technical advice, and utilize local knowledge by combining traditional skills with modern technology. This study concludes that communication media and local knowledge are essential drivers of smart-farming adaptation. Stronger technical support, digital literacy programs, and farmer-centered agricultural technology design are crucial to enhance adoption. These findings highlight the need for targeted policies to improve infrastructure, expand training programs, and ensure that smart farming technologies are accessible and practical for smallholder farmers.
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series BIO Web of Conferences
spelling doaj-art-e457d52c3a794c0aa938c45396964add2025-08-20T02:16:29ZengEDP SciencesBIO Web of Conferences2117-44582025-01-011710400710.1051/bioconf/202517104007bioconf_fisaed2025_04007Adapting to smart farming: Communication media and local knowledge in overcoming technical challengesRasmira Rasmira0Lubis Djuara P.1Sumardjo Sumardjo2Fatchiya Anna3Supriyanto Supriyanto4Department of Communication and Community Development Sciences, Faculty of Human Ecology, IPB University, BogorDepartment of Communication and Community Development Sciences, Faculty of Human Ecology, IPB University, BogorDepartment of Communication and Community Development Sciences, Faculty of Human Ecology, IPB University, BogorDepartment of Communication and Community Development Sciences, Faculty of Human Ecology, IPB University, BogorMechanical and Biosystem Engineering Department, IPB UniversitySmart farming has great potential for improving agricultural productivity and addressing global food security. However, the adoption of these technologies remains a challenge, particularly for smallholder farmers in developing countries. This study investigates the technical challenges faced by farmers in West Java, Indonesia, in adopting smart farming and explores how communication media and local knowledge facilitate adaptation. Using a qualitative approach, data were collected through in-depth interviews and field observations of seven participants, including farmers who had used smart farming for horticultural crop management, agricultural extension workers, and representatives of smart farming technology vendor companies in Subang Regency, West Bandung Regency, Bogor City, and Sumedang Regency. The study findings revealed that limited infrastructure, extreme climate variation, limited land availability, uneven nutrient distribution, suboptimal sensor performance, component damage, complex tool calibration, and limited technical support are the major technical barriers. Farmers overcome this challenge using communication media to exchange experiences, access information for technical advice, and utilize local knowledge by combining traditional skills with modern technology. This study concludes that communication media and local knowledge are essential drivers of smart-farming adaptation. Stronger technical support, digital literacy programs, and farmer-centered agricultural technology design are crucial to enhance adoption. These findings highlight the need for targeted policies to improve infrastructure, expand training programs, and ensure that smart farming technologies are accessible and practical for smallholder farmers.https://www.bio-conferences.org/articles/bioconf/pdf/2025/22/bioconf_fisaed2025_04007.pdf
spellingShingle Rasmira Rasmira
Lubis Djuara P.
Sumardjo Sumardjo
Fatchiya Anna
Supriyanto Supriyanto
Adapting to smart farming: Communication media and local knowledge in overcoming technical challenges
BIO Web of Conferences
title Adapting to smart farming: Communication media and local knowledge in overcoming technical challenges
title_full Adapting to smart farming: Communication media and local knowledge in overcoming technical challenges
title_fullStr Adapting to smart farming: Communication media and local knowledge in overcoming technical challenges
title_full_unstemmed Adapting to smart farming: Communication media and local knowledge in overcoming technical challenges
title_short Adapting to smart farming: Communication media and local knowledge in overcoming technical challenges
title_sort adapting to smart farming communication media and local knowledge in overcoming technical challenges
url https://www.bio-conferences.org/articles/bioconf/pdf/2025/22/bioconf_fisaed2025_04007.pdf
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AT sumardjosumardjo adaptingtosmartfarmingcommunicationmediaandlocalknowledgeinovercomingtechnicalchallenges
AT fatchiyaanna adaptingtosmartfarmingcommunicationmediaandlocalknowledgeinovercomingtechnicalchallenges
AT supriyantosupriyanto adaptingtosmartfarmingcommunicationmediaandlocalknowledgeinovercomingtechnicalchallenges