BAKTI Internet shields Central Sulawesi farmers from middlemen scams

Digital infrastructure built by the Telecommunications and Information Accessibility Agency (BAKTI) of the Ministry of Communication and Digital Affairs (Kemkomdigi) is not only expanding internet access for communities in frontier, outermost, and disadvantaged (3T) regions, but is also impacting the local economy. In Parigi Moutong Regency, Central Sulawesi, prior to the network’s arrival, communities in mountainous areas struggled to obtain information on agricultural produce prices. As a result, they were frequently deceived by middlemen. “In the past, farmers were often tricked. They were deceived by middlemen who, when prices had actually risen, told them that prices had fallen,” said Khairuddin, Acting Head of the Parigi Moutong Regency Communication and Information Office, at the BAKTI Media Connect 2026 event in Jakarta on Wednesday. Now that the internet is easily accessible, people in remote areas can obtain commodity price information, strengthening farmers’ bargaining position against middlemen. “With this assistance from BAKTI, the community can now access all information available, particularly at the provincial, regency, and district levels,” he explained. Meanwhile, Baina Barat Village Head Yuslan said similar changes have been directly felt by his village community. According to him, residents can now compare prices and seek buyers offering better rates before selling their agricultural produce. “After the BTS programme from BAKTI was introduced, the community was very happy to be able to use the internet. Now they can no longer be deceived by middlemen,” said Yuslan. A similar impact has also been felt by MSME players. Yuslan said residents can utilise social media to promote products and receive orders from outside the village. “It is easy for them to access, for example, food they have made and then sell, then they upload it, post a photo and share it on social media,” he said.