Kota bharu: The Kemubu Agricultural Development Authority (KADA) is shifting from an agricultural water management approach based on estimates and experience to a more evidence-based approach that uses real-time information through the implementation of the KADA Water Management System (SPARK).
According to BERNAMA News Agency, Agriculture and Food Security Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Sabu said SPARK is an integrated water management platform designed to improve KADA's ability to monitor, control and coordinate water distribution to rice-growing areas more efficiently and responsively. Mohamad emphasized that SPARK is not merely a new technological initiative but represents a significant change in agricultural water management, moving away from reliance on estimates towards management based on evidence and real-time information.
The integration of Internet of Things (IoT) and Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) technology in SPARK allows critical data, such as water levels, flow rates, rainfall distribution, and water-gate status, to be monitored and analyzed in real time. This capability facilitates operational decisions based on actual conditions, enabling quicker responses to changes in water levels, equipment failures, and flooding risks.
The system's integration includes monitoring and managing 42 pumping stations, 66 water gates, and 40 telemetry stations, allowing water distribution to align more closely with crop needs, rice growth stages, and weather conditions. Mohamad stated that SPARK could help protect up to 8,000 hectares of padi fields from flooding and crop damage as part of disaster mitigation efforts. KADA currently oversees about 26,664 hectares of active padi fields in Kelantan.
Water release and distribution decisions must consider factors such as river levels, rainfall, drainage capacity, water-gate conditions, pumping-station capacity, and crop needs at various growth stages. Data on water use, rainfall patterns, pumping station performance, and previous flooding incidents will also inform analysis, infrastructure improvements, and precise planning of planting seasons.
The effectiveness of SPARK will be measured by more efficient water distribution, faster response times, lower risks of crop damage, adherence to planting schedules, and higher productivity. Mohamad highlighted that the SPARK system is expected to boost KADA's padi productivity to 5.5 tonnes per hectare by 2030, up from the current 4.5 tonnes per hectare.
The RM3.7 million SPARK project, which ran from March 2024 to March 2026, aligns with the National Agrofood Policy 2021-2030 and the 13th Malaysia Plan, focusing on agrofood sector modernization, technology adoption, higher productivity, and strengthened food security.