Kulon Progo, December 18, 2025 – The Department of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering (DTPB), Faculty of Agricultural Technology, Universitas Gadjah Mada (FTP UGM), conducted a socialization and launching event of the Smart Agri Precision Sprinkler for the Putro Samudro Farmer Group in Kriyan Village, Kulon Progo Regency. This activity is part of the Priority Research Downstreaming Program – SINERGI (Social Innovation), funded by the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, and Technology of the Republic of Indonesia through the Directorate General of Research and Development, under the project entitled “Smart and Precision Irrigation for Coastal Land Revitalization Based on Soil Moisture.”
The program aims to improve water-use efficiency and agricultural productivity on coastal sandy land, which is characterized by physical and climatic limitations.
The activity was attended by Prof. Lilik Sutiarso as Head of the Department of Agricultural and Biosystems Engineering FTP UGM, Program Leader Dr. Andri Prima Nugroho, Dr. Murtiningrum, Ardan Wiratmoko, M.Sc., and the program team from DTPB FTP UGM. Representatives from partner institutions and the local community were also present, including Agus Purwaka, S.P., Head of the Extension and Agricultural Infrastructure Division of the Kulon Progo Regency Agriculture and Food Security, along with his staff, the Head of Kriyan Hamlet Supardi, the Chairman of the Putro Samudro Farmer Group Joko, and members of the farmer group.
The event began with opening remarks from the Head of Kriyan Hamlet, Supardi, who highlighted the challenges faced by local farmers due to limited access to modern agricultural technology. He expressed hope that the technology introduced by DTPB FTP UGM would provide tangible benefits, particularly in improving efficiency and crop yields.
Agus Purwaka, S.P., representing the Kulon Progo Regency Agriculture and Food Security, emphasized that collaboration with DTPB FTP UGM—especially with Dr. Murtiningrum—has been established for a considerable time in developing agriculture on coastal sandy land. He explained that sandy soils have low water-holding capacity, making smart irrigation technology essential for improving irrigation precision and land-use efficiency. He also stressed the importance of sustainable utilization and proper maintenance of the technology by the Putro Samudro Farmer Group.
In his remarks, Prof. Lilik Sutiarso expressed his hope that the Smart Precision Irrigation technology would continue to be developed into an appropriate technology that can be jointly utilized by farmers. He also underlined the importance of sustained collaboration between DTPB FTP UGM and the Kulon Progo Regency Agriculture and Food Service in developing applicable and solution-oriented irrigation technologies.
During the technical presentation session, Dr. Murtiningrum shared her research experience in coastal sandy land areas. She explained that sandy land is generally less suitable for agriculture, requiring specific approaches and technological innovations for effective management. On this occasion, she introduced Smart Precision Irrigation as a precision irrigation system designed to optimize water-use efficiency.
The technology is further supported by the integration of the Internet of Things (IoT), as explained by Ardan Wiratmoko. The IoT system enables remote monitoring of field conditions based on real-time data, which will be further developed together with students to ensure optimal performance, user-friendliness, and suitability for farmers’ needs.
During the discussion session, the Chairman of the Putro Samudro Farmer Group, Joko, shared insights into the unique conditions of agricultural land in Kriyan Village and expressed his hope that the Smart Precision Irrigation technology could be sustainably implemented to support local agricultural activities.
The activity concluded with a field visit to the demonstration plot. During this session, farmers and the DTPB FTP UGM research team observed the direct application of the Smart Precision Irrigation technology and received technical explanations regarding its operation and future development potential.
Through this program, DTPB FTP UGM reaffirmed its commitment to developing and disseminating applicable and sustainable precision agriculture technologies, particularly to support the management of marginal lands such as coastal sandy areas.
This initiative contributes directly to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 2 (Zero Hunger) through increased agricultural productivity, SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation) through efficient irrigation water use, and SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals) by strengthening collaboration among universities, local governments, and farmer groups.
