Implementation of GIS Technology in Horticultural Sector

By Iskandar Zulkarnain
(Manager of Applied Technology Unit of the Horti Chain Centre)

GIS technology can be used for: earth surface based

scientific investigations; resource management,
reference, and projections of a geospatial nature--both
human made and natural; asset management and
location planning; archaeology; environmental impact
study; infrastructure assessment and development;
urban planning; cartography, for a thematic and/or time
based purpose; criminology; GIS data development
geographic history; marketing; logistics; population and
demographic studies; prospectivity mapping; location
attributes applied statistical analysis; warfare
assessments; and other purposes. Examples of use are:
GIS may allow emergency planners to easily calculate
emergency response times and the movement of
response resources (for logistics) in the case of a natural Facilitator is explaining how take coordinate position of
disaster; GIS might be used too to find wetlands that the tree
need protection strategies regarding pollution; or GIS
can be used by a company to site a new business location to take advantage of GIS data identified trends to
respond to a previously under-served market. Most city and transportation systems planning offices have GIS
sections (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geographic_information_system).

What about horticulture sector? Can we use GIS

technology to provide horticultural information? Off
course, GIS Technology can be used not only to inform
acreage land owned by farmer or farmer group and border
between farm area, moreover GIS Technology possible to
provide detail informatin such planting date, fertilization
history, harvesting history, pest and deseases history etc.
which those information can be accessed by everyone,
everywhere and everytime through internet because GIS
Technology nowdays is easy to integrate to satelite photo
f.i. google maps. Some consumers, especially in
developing countries, they want to know where the
produce comes from. All related information reffering to

Demonstating how to use MobileMapper the quality assurance scheme for food safety production
management are possible to store in database basis. Key
factor for success in utilizing GIS Technology in horticultural
sector is by up dating data regularly by the producers, in this
case farmers or their organization.

To implement GIS Technology into horticultural sector, Global

Positioning System (GPS) tracking equipment is needed as tool
to obtain coordinate position. There are many brands available
in the market, even in mobile phone, GPS is attached. Different
manufacture will offer different quality and accuracy. One of
indicator of good quality GPS tracking equipment is speed of the
tools to catch signal from satelite because it will save time
Training participants from KBUI, AMAL and
Cikembar, key actors of Mangosteen Supply
Chain
during take coordinate position or measure acreage of certain area. More accurate GPS tracking equipment in
taking coordinate position, the more accurate result.

Horti Chain Centre as supply chain development centre

that provide services to enable a better performance of
Indonesian horticultural supply chain has been carried out
training on GIS Mapping for Mangosteen orchad. About
35 mangosteen farmers are trained how to use GPS
tracking equipment to make their farm boudaries,
measure their farm acreage, taking coordinate position of
their mangosteen trees, upload data to google earth,
manage record keeping of farm activities.

Horti Chain Centre is Managed by Indonesian-Netherlands

Association, LEI-Wageningen University Research Center,
Fresh Studio Innovations and supported by Indonesian
Facility of EVD
Training participant in practical work in the mangsoteen
orchad
Direct benefits gained by the farmer are farmers know
accurately their land acreage, number of tree owned etc. Future benefit will be obtained by the farmers or farmer
organization is the value of the information. With accurate information they have, it help them in make planning.
Better planning is a one step ahead to gain better result.

Further information for this service, please contact:

HORTI CHAIN CENTRE

C/O : Indonesian-Netherlads Association
Indonesian-Benelux Chamber of Commerce
th
Gedung Menara Jamsostek Tower A-20 fl Room 2002
Jl. Jend. Gatot Subroto No. 38 Jakarta 12710
Phone: +62 21 5290 2177 Fax: +62 21 5290 2178
Website: www.hortichain.org E-mail: info@hortichain.org
Contact Person: Ario Sudiro