[unsoed.ac.id, Tues, 08/07/25] Dr. Rer. nat. Ir. Djeimy Kusnaman, M.Sc., a lecturer at the Faculty of Agriculture at Jenderal Soedirman University (Unsoed), is the driving force behind the development of the Lelang Agro application. This digital innovation has significantly improved the efficiency and bargaining power of chili farmers. The application is designed to reduce the reliance of chili farmers in Wonoroto Village, Ngombol Subdistrict, Purworejo Regency, on middlemen.
The Lelang Agro Application was launched on Thursday, July 3, 2025, at the Guyub Rukun Horticultural Auction Hall in Wonoroto Village, Ngombol District, Purworejo Regency. This application was developed based on a research study that utilized direct needs analysis methods, including interviews and observations of farmers and auction market managers.
“After nearly three years of development and testing, the Lelang Agro application is now actively used by farmer groups in Wonoroto Village, with approximately 40 buyer accounts registered. This demonstrates that our innovation has received a positive response from users,” stated Dr. Djeimy Kusnaman, the head of the research team, during a press briefing.
The team is composed of two lecturers from the Faculty of Agriculture at Unsoed: Dr. Dindy Darmawati Putri, SP, MP, and Indah Setiawati, SP, MP. From the Faculty of Engineering, the team includes Hari Siswantoro, ST, MT, PhD; Ir. Nofiyati, S.Kom, M.Kom; and Mohammad Irham Akbar, S.Kom, M.CS.
The launch of the Lelang Agro Application resulted from a collaboration between the Unsoed research team and the manager of the Guyub Rukun Auction Hall in Wonoroto Village. The event was attended by a variety of participants, including representatives from the village government, the Ngombol Subdistrict Agricultural Extension Centre, the Purworejo Regency Trade Office, traders, farmers, and Unsoed lecturers and students.
This application accelerates the auction process, reduces operational costs, and helps farmers achieve more competitive selling prices, according to Djeimy Kusnaman.
The researcher explained that this study received funding from the National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN) through the Reset Indonesia scheme. This initiative aims to promote innovation that addresses the actual needs of the community. The goal is to enhance the efficiency of auction market management and improve the welfare of farmers.
Minimizing Dependency on Middlemen
The Lelang Agro Application was officially launched during a socialization event led by Indah Setiawati, SP., M.P., an Agribusiness lecturer at Unsoed. She emphasized the significance of technological innovations like Lelang Agro in reducing farmers’ reliance on middlemen. “This application allows farmers to sell their harvests directly and transparently, without intermediaries,” she explained.
The main presenter at the socialization event was Mohammad Irham Akbar, S.Kom., M.Cs., a lecturer in Computer Science at the Faculty of Engineering, Unsoed.
Mohammad Irham Akbar provided a detailed explanation of the features of the Lelang Agro Application. This application enables buyers to register online, participate in auctions, and set prices without needing to visit the physical location. “This system makes transactions more efficient, secure, and transparent,” he stated.
Jarno, the coordinator of the Guyub Rukun Auction Hall, mentioned that using this application can reduce time and operational costs by up to 10 percent. “We no longer need to contact buyers individually via WhatsApp. The process has become more practical. We would like to express our gratitude to the researchers from Unsoed,” he said.
The success of Lelang Agro demonstrates that collaboration between academics and the community can create effective digital solutions. The research team hopes that this application can be applied to other agricultural commodities for the sustainable welfare of farmers. (*)
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