In a symposium, the experts noted how the agriculture and food system in the ASEAN serves as a primary source of employment and income for much of the region’s population while also contributing significantly to national, regional, and global food security.
“However, the system faces numerous challenges, including increasing food demand for a growing population, rising malnutrition rates, adverse impacts of climate change, overexploitation of natural resources, ever-increasing carbon emissions, loss of biodiversity, and food loss and waste,” they warned.
To address these challenges, digital technologies have become essential, offering innovative solutions to boost productivity, optimize resources, improve market access, and support sustainable practices in the agriculture and food systems, according to event organizer Economic Research Institute for ASEAN and East Asia.
Presenters at the conference on the digitalization of ASEAN agriculture noted that the adoption of IoT is one of the most widely implemented initiatives in the region to improve efficiency and promote sustainability in agricultural practices.
IoT technologies are being used to monitor crop health through weather stations; measure soil properties, pH levels, and fertilizer application to optimize nutrient usage and reduce waste; support smart farming initiatives to obtain real-time data; incorporate global navigation satellite systems for land levelling and analyze nutrient requirements; facilitate data-driven management of pests, soil conditions, and water resources; and implement smart village model and ICT water management initiatives.
Similarly, drone technology has emerged as a pivotal tool across ASEAN for enhancing agricultural practices, primarily in precision spraying, crop monitoring, and data collection, to increase productivity and effectiveness, reduce waste, and promote sustainable farming. These drones are equipped with sensors to provide high-resolution data that support data-driven decision-making and are often used with GPS and image-processing technologies to enable accurate mapping even in difficult terrains, said ERIA.
At the same time, ICT networks are being established across the region for water management and climate resilience. They have become essential for optimizing irrigation, conserving water, and promoting sustainable agricultural practices, especially in areas with limited or high-water resources.
Some states utilize an ICT network that are specifically designed for rice-farming areas prone to flooding and drought, incorporating sensors that monitor water levels and environmental conditions in real time to provide alerts during extreme weather events and enable farmers to manage irrigation systems. Others use smart irrigation systems to ensure precision in fruit farming, optimize water use according to crop requirements, and offer real-time weather updates and irrigation recommendations to help farmers anticipate their water needs while minimizing waste and enhancing climate resilience.
Aside from IoT, drones, and ICT networks, regional watchers have also noted the emergence of e-commerce platforms that are “significantly transforming agriculture across ASEAN by facilitating direct connections between farmers and consumers, thus enhancing market access, particularly in rural areas.”
Viet Nam has its SENDO platform that enables both consumer-to-consumer and business-to-consumer transactions, allowing farmers to sell their produce directly to consumers, ensuring fairer prices and broader market reach.
Similarly, the Philippines has established e-Kadiwa, a government-supported platform that aids in distributing agricultural products and managing prices, especially during supply chain disruptions, thereby improving income stability for farmers.
Cambodia’s CAMAgriMarket offers an online marketplace that provides farmers with insights into current market trends and prices. In Indonesia, TaniHub connects farmers with urban markets, enhancing their ability to sell fresh produce and processed goods.
“Collectively, these e-commerce initiatives are streamlining supply chains, increasing income opportunities, and contributing to more resilient and sustainable agricultural practices throughout the region,” the experts said.
However, they pointed out that adopting digital agriculture presents several challenges, including the high cost of technology, inadequate infrastructure, poor technical skills and digital literacy, regulatory and policy barriers, and limited data availability and data security.
Symposium participants emphasized two factors crucial to the success of digital transformation in agriculture: collaboration between governments and the private sector and the development of effective policy frameworks.
“The success of digital transformation relies on strong collaboration amongst stakeholders, ensuring inclusivity for all. A supportive policy framework is essential to enable stakeholders to contribute effectively to the implementation of digital technologies. Therefore, it is recommended that governments in AMS (ASEAN member states) create an environment that enhances the use of digital technology and encourages broad collaboration across sectors,” they said.
January 27, 2025
