Central Java's Revola Programme Employs Drones and Drop Irrigation to Revive Idle Land
The agricultural sector in Central Java is becoming increasingly modern. Through the Central Java Land Revolution (Revola Jateng) programme, young people are now operating soil moisture detectors, drop irrigation systems, and drones to manage idle land and return it to productivity.
This was conveyed by the Head of the Central Java Provincial Agriculture and Livestock Service (Distanak), Defransisco Dasilva Tavares, while presenting the ‘Revola Jateng Optimis’ programme to Governor Ahmad Luthfi in Semarang on Wednesday, 29 July 2026.
Frans explained that as a pilot project, the programme has been implemented in Banjarnegara Regency on 10 hectares of land. Its operation involves cooperation with 22 stakeholders and at least 625 families in the area.
The programme optimises land using an integrated smart farming system. Its operations involve the millennial generation collaborating with the senior generation.
‘The division of tasks is that the older or senior generation of farmers focuses more on land cultivation, while the younger generation handles technical aspects related to smart farming technology such as drop irrigation, drones, soil and water moisture detection tools, and others,’ he said.
The land optimisation is carried out through levelling. Firstly, approximately 2 hectares of land are planted with avocados and coffee. Secondly, less than half a hectare is used for chicken and goat or sheep farming. Thirdly, there is land used for horticultural crops such as chillies, bananas, aubergines, and so on. Fourthly, land is allocated for maize and rice crops.
‘So this is land that had not been worked on for 12 years. Interestingly, this is former local tea Nucleus Estate Smallholder (PIR) land that will be returned to the community. Revola Jateng bridges the gap for land cultivation to make it productive,’ he said.
From the pilot project already conducted, Revola Jateng has had a direct impact on 625 families in Banjarnegara Regency. Benefits range from livestock to agricultural yields already being felt by the community. The production value from the land is estimated to generate around Rp1.9 billion. The Regent of Banjarnegara has even targeted the Revola Jateng location to become an agro-tourism area.
‘There are 625 poor families involved in that area, and we hope they can move up a class to become non-poor,’ he explained.
Frans added that following its implementation in Banjarnegara, the programme will be developed in several other areas as directed by Governor Ahmad Luthfi to support food security. Based on data, Batang and Pekalongan are targets because there are also handovers of former Nucleus Estate Smallholder (PIR) land in those areas.
‘Several other regions have already applied, and in the future we will try to direct it to other areas,’ he said.