Technology needs assessment for the development of smart coffee production in Aceh, Indonesia

Abstract

This research aimed to analyze the need for smart farming implementation in coffee production. A survey was conducted on 100 farmers in Aceh Tengah and Bener Meriah, the main coffee producers in Aceh Province. Data were collected by questionnaire that identified farmers’ needs and performance of four types of smart farming technologies: drip irrigation, fertilizer detectors, fruit ripeness detectors, and dry houses. The needs of technology were assessed by farmers’ perspectives on smart farming regarding its use to reduce product contamination, farm waste, minimize risk to farmers’ health, strengthen social bonds, and increase product quality and quantity. Technology needs assessment was performed by analyzing the determinant factors of farmers’ needs and computing the gap between technology needs and performance to set the priority of smart farming technology for future development. The results showed that fertilizer detectors were the first priority technology needed and considered important by farmers, followed by drip irrigation, dry houses and fruit ripeness detectors. Farmers’ needs for smart farming were significantly affected by the land size. There is a significant difference between farmers’ needs and performance of smart farming technologies. To fill this gap, an effective public-private partnership is needed for technology interventions based on farmers’ needs.