Ayer Hitam: The adoption of smart agriculture technology not only eases farming tasks for agri-entrepreneurs but also sparks interest among potential new entrants to the industry, said Digital Minister Gobind Singh Deo. He emphasized that the integration of digital technology in crop production, in alignment with the Fourth Industrial Revolution policy, involving IoT, big data analysis, and AI, holds the potential to draw more parties into the agricultural sector.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, Gobind highlighted Malaysia’s rapid digital transformation, noting that technology has effectively boosted the nation’s competitiveness, accelerated economic growth, and opened up new opportunities. He made these remarks during a visit to the AI Technology-Based Aquaculture (Digital AgTech) site in Ayer Hitam, part of the Malaysia Digital Tour.
Gobind pointed out that the agricultural sector is often viewed as comprising dirty, dangerous, and difficult (3D) jobs, with perceptions of high risk and low returns on investment. He stated that the mission is to change this perception and elevate the agricultural sector to a more modern and productive level through digital technology, aligning with the Digital Ministry’s focus on creating a Digital Government, Digital Economy, and Digital Society.
According to Gobind, the Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation (MDEC) has been appointed by the Agriculture and Food Security Ministry (KPKM) as the National Digital Technology (Digital AgTech) strategic validator to support the digital transformation of the agricultural sector. He mentioned that the digital agricultural system is one of MDEC’s programmes aimed at enhancing the use of digital technology in agriculture, facilitating the marketing of agricultural products, and enabling farmers and agri-entrepreneurs to reach the market more swiftly and effectively.
He further stated that the use of this technology can enhance the competitiveness of Malaysia’s agricultural exports globally, thereby helping the country penetrate the international market with high-quality products.