MMCKalteng – Palangka Raya – The Central Kalimantan Provincial Office of Food Crops, Horticulture, and Animal Husbandry (TPHP) continue to innovates in developing the horticulture sector. This year, the TPHP Office of Central Kalimantan has established a collaborative program with the Faculty of Agriculture at Universitas Pembangunan Nasional (UPN) “Veteran” Yogyakarta to implement Smart Farming technology in Central Kalimantan. The collaboration program was conducted at the Smart Greenhouse, UPT Testing Centre for Feed Seedlings, and Forage (BPMPP-HMT), located in Jl. Tjilik Riwut KM 38, Palangka Raya, on Wednesday, September 10, 2025.

Rendy Lesmana, Head of the TPHP Office of Central Kalimantan, emphasized the importance of Smart Farming technology in supporting food security, especially in facing modern agricultural challenges such as climate change, limited land availability, and the growing demand for food. “Therefore, collaboration with universities is a strategic step to bring innovation to agriculture. Smart farming not only increases the productivity and quality of agricultural products, but also cultivates a young generation of farmers who are creative, adaptive, and competitive,” said Rendy Lesmana.

This collaboration also marks an important milestone in strengthening Central Kalimantan’s role as one of the centres for technology-based modern horticulture development in Indonesia. This synergy between students, researchers, and local government is expected to produce a modern agricultural model that can be replicated by local farmers. With this transfer of knowledge and technology, farmers will have easier access to the latest innovations, while the community will benefit from the availability of higher-quality and sustainable horticultural products, added Rendy Lesmana.

Mukti Aji, Head of the Horticultural Crops Division, explained that the TPHP Office of Central Kalimantan has actively collaborated with academic institutions for two consecutive years. This year, the collaboration is with UPN “Veteran” Yogyakarta. The team deployed to the Smart Greenhouse is the Malika Jaya Team, consisting of students. The team is currently developing melon varieties Meldo UPN1 and Meldo UPN2, which are expected to adapt well to Central Kalimantan’s land and produce high-quality fruits. “The introduction of these new varieties presents a significant opportunity to enhance the diversification and competitiveness of regional horticultural commodities,” explained Mukti Aji after the melon harvest at the UPT Testing Centre for Feed, Seedlings, and Forage. (IS-Edt) Edt : Ek