Pemanfaatan Teknologi Informasi dan Komunikasi Mendukung Pembangunan Pertanian Berkelanjutan

Abstract

Sustainable agricultural and rural development are currently issues of universal strategic importance. Attaining sustainable agricultural development is a worldwide strategic concern. Toward the globalization era, the sustainable agricultural development should not be dissociated with the very fast progress of information and communication technology. Agricultural information is one of the most important factors of production and there is no doubt that this can lead to development. It is the best knowledge application that will drive development and create best opportunities for sustainable development and poverty reduction. The effective integration of Information and Communication Technoloogies (ICTs) in the agricultural sector will lead to sustainable agriculture by providing timely and relevant agricultural information, which will enable farmers make well informed decisions on farming to increase productivity. ICTs can greatly improve farmers’ accessibility to market information, commodity inputs, consumer trends, and related agricultural information which positively impact on the quality and the quantity of their produce. Information on marketing, new plant and animal management practice, pest and diseases, transportation availability, new marketing opportunities and market prices of farm input and output are very important to an efficient and productive economy.