Internet helps farmers reap more profits<\/p>\n
Indra Harsaputra, The Jakarta Post, Bojonegoro<\/p>\n
Suhar, 28, a peanut farmer likes to show off the new cell phone
\nhe bought two months ago. He could afford to buy the cell phone
\nafter he reaped significant profit from his peanut farm using a
\nmanagement and production method based on knowledge Suhar
\nobtained from the Internet.<\/p>\n
Suhar said his profit had been soaring since he adopted new
\nproduction techniques and management principles he acquired from
\nan information technology training held by PT Microsoft Indonesia
\nlast year. \"This cell phone is evidence that the information
\ntechnology has helped me acquire more profit. My net revenue was
\nRp 400,000 before I adopted the new management and production
\ntechniques, but now it is Rp 4 million a month,\" said Suhar.<\/p>\n
The training program is aimed at empowering local farmers to
\nbenefit from the latest technology with the long-term goal of
\nalleviating poverty in Indonesia.<\/p>\n
In addition to equipment and facilities, two instructors will
\nbe assigned to train and guide trainees in computer literacy in
\nan area where the program is conducted.<\/p>\n
Microsoft first developed the information technology-based
\nprogram, called Unlimited Potential (UP), by working together
\nwith non-governmental organizations to accomplish a long-term
\ntraining program by establishing the Community Training and
\nLearning Center (CTLC) in October, 2003.<\/p>\n
Each CTLC will be provided with modern equipment made
\navailable to the farmers and their family members. They can
\nobtain wide access to information, exchange ideas among fellow
\nfarmers and enhance their knowledge of information technology.
\nThere are 30,000 people in Indonesia who benefit from the
\npresence of 28 CTLCs across the country located in Banda Aceh,
\nJambi, Medan, Mataram, Makassar, Denpasar, Pontianak, Sukabumi
\nand Bojonegoro, among other places.<\/p>\n
Suhar gained knowledge on farming techniques in accordance
\nwith market demand from the training he received at the Garis
\nTepi CTLC in Bojonegoro.<\/p>\n
Previously, Suhar and a number of peanut farmers in Manukan
\nvillage, Bojonegoro, had cultivated the three and four-pea
\npeanut, the quality of which was considered good, but was not in
\ndemand, resulting in little profit, while some farmers had even
\nincurred losses.<\/p>\n
After he received Internet training from Microsoft in early
\n2004, he obtained information on the high demand for two-pea
\npeanuts on the market.<\/p>\n
He continued searching for extra information on two-pea peanut
\ncultivation, and finally shifted from planting three and four-pea
\npeanuts to the two-pea variety.<\/p>\n
To market the peanuts, Suhar, with the help of the two
\ninstructors at the CTLC, posted himself on one of the Websites,
\nand eventually secured buyers from Pati, Central Java, and Jember
\nin East Java. \"I am better off now. I can set aside some of the
\nprofit from the peanut sales to put in the bank,\" he said.<\/p>\n
Suhar is not the only person in Bojonegoro who has benefited
\nfrom the IT training program organized by Microsoft, but other
\nfarmers, including school students and women have also gained
\nfrom the program.<\/p>\n
Rusmianto, a young man in Bojonegoro, hopes to set up a small
\nbusiness after completing his training at the CTLC. The 20-year-
\nold man who has only completed elementary school, hopes to open a
\ngreeting card printing business in Bojonegoro.<\/p>\n
PT Microsoft Indonesia's public relations manager, Cynthia
\nIskandar, said that her company would continue developing the
\nprogram and set up more CTLCs.<\/p>",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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