Over 20 Years of Precision Farming Development: Deputy Minister of State-Owned Enterprises Inspects Preparation of Petrokimia Gresik's Smart Precision Farming Program

Gresik, East Java – Kartika Wirjoatmodjo, Deputy Minister of State-Owned Enterprises of the Republic of Indonesia, visited Gresik, East Java to inspect the preparations for the Smart Precision Farming Program by Petrokimia Gresik, a leading Agro-Industrial Solutions company and a member of the Pupuk Indonesia holding, on Thursday (9/11). Smart Precision Farming represents a transformation of the precision farming program developed by Petrokimia Gresik over the past 20 years.

Accompanying the Deputy Minister of State-Owned Enterprises on the visit to Petrokimia Gresik, Rahmad Pribadi, CEO of Pupuk Indonesia, emphasized the founding spirit of fertilizer companies by the government from the outset to ensure national food security. Petrokimia Gresik stands out as one of the companies with the most comprehensive range of fertilizer and chemical products in Indonesia. The innovation of Smart Precision Farming initiated by Petrokimia Gresik is also an effort to uphold national food security.

"In addition to nano and granular fertilizers, drones utilized in the Smart Precision Farming program can also be used for pesticide application. Our two subsidiaries, Petrosida Gresik and Petrokimia Kayaku, are pesticide manufacturers who, when combined, become leaders in the Indonesian pesticide market," explained Rahmad Pribadi succinctly to the Deputy Minister of State-Owned Enterprises.

Meanwhile, Dwi Satriyo Annurogo, CEO of Petrokimia Gresik, explained that the Smart Precision Farming program currently being developed by the company originated from the precision farming program initiated by Petrokimia Gresik in 2000, marked by the creation of customizable NPK fertilizers to meet plant requirements.

"We are pioneers of NPK fertilizers in the country, and for over 20 years, our factory has been able to produce NPK fertilizers with formulas tailored to the general nutrient needs of plants. The requirements for oil palm differ from rice, and so do other crops. Through this customized production, the fertilizers produced by Petrokimia Gresik contain precise nutrient content tailored to plant needs," he emphasized.

The next phase of precision farming development by Petrokimia Gresik in 2005 introduced Petroganik organic granular fertilizers to anticipate declining soil organic content. This fertilizer, added Dwi Satriyo, also supports the Government's Balanced Fertilization Program for sustainable agriculture.

"In 2010, Petrokimia Gresik also developed biologically active microbial fertilizers to enhance the effectiveness of N and P usage, thus optimizing plant absorption," said Dwi Satriyo.

In 2015, Petrokimia Gresik optimized precision farming services by introducing the Mobile Soil Testing (MUT) Unit, expanding its service coverage nationwide in 2020. This mobile unit can analyze soil fertility levels, providing precise fertilization recommendations tailored to the location

and crop type. This complements the education, socialization, and cultivation assistance programs conducted by Petrokimia Gresik.

"Farmers simply need to bring soil samples, and within a short time, they can determine the nutrient content of their soil, enabling them to use precise fertilizers according to their needs. And of course, this service is free," he added.

In 2021, before the precision farming program evolved into Smart Precision Farming, Petrokimia Gresik introduced NPK Phonska Alam fertilizers. This became the first certified organic mineral fertilizer in Indonesia with standardized N, P, and K content. Its usage is far more precise compared to using animal manure in organic farming.

Moreover, Petrokimia Gresik has documented soil fertility data in a book titled "Precision Agriculture: Soil Fertility Status," launched during Petrokimia Gresik's 51st anniversary celebration. This book serves as a reference or guide for agricultural practitioners regarding balanced fertilization applications.

Finally, in 2023, Petrokimia Gresik developed Smart Precision Farming, a more advanced precision farming program, which includes the development of nano-technology applied fertilizers for optimized plant absorption. These nano-technology fertilizers will be a new product, the first of its kind developed in Indonesia.

In this program, Petrokimia Gresik utilizes drone technology equipped with IoT for the application of nano-fertilizers and to collect geospatial data, soil test kits to measure soil nutrient levels, and Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) technology, which records plant vegetation indices through infrared and red channel satellite images. Data collected from various technologies will serve as the basis for precise fertilization doses, making agricultural processes more effective and efficient. Additionally, farmers can also obtain information regarding land area and soil conditions on their land.

"Smart Precision Farming can be the solution to challenges faced by Indonesian agriculture, utilizing modern technology to conduct farming more effectively, efficiently, and precisely. As a result, yields increase, attracting the interest of Indonesia's younger generation," he concluded.