MDEC, CIMB bolster digital capabilities for farmers

• IoT system helps farmers increase quality of yield by 90%, reduce fertiliser use by 20%
• Digital agriculture programme enable MDEC, CIMB to better understand farmer needs

THE Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation (MDEC) and CIMB Bank Group recently organised an immersion exercise with digitally-powered farmers based in Kuala Langat.

The site visit saw the senior leadership from both companies making time to meet with Pertubuhan Peladang Kawasan Kuala Langat (PPKKL) and learn how much these technology-driven farmers have achieved from when the Digital Agriculture (eLadang) programme launched in 2018, MDEC said in a statement.

The excursion helped enable MDEC and CIMB to better understand the current needs of these farmers and, at the same time, share with them the latest technology trends that can boost their ongoing digital journey, MDEC said.

This includes assessing the current technology capabilities and understanding the efforts that these farmers have undertaken to transform the agriculture industry, with the aid of MDEC, CIMB and their partners, it added.

According to MDEC, the rollout of agriculture tech into selected farms at Kuala Langat, with the support and partnership with PPKKL (via the chilli pilot project introduced four years ago), has helped these farmers improve their yields and quality.

Initiatives in the digital agriculture programme have seen farmers adopt an Internet of things (IoT)-enabled fertigation system, which MDEC claimed has helped them reduce monthly fertiliser use by 20%, lower monthly manpower requirements by 50%, and increase the quality of yield (Grade A chilies) by up to 90%.

“The purpose of the visit is to see how MDEC is able to further expand the capabilities of farmers by using agriculture tech and other IoT powered solutions,” said Rais Hussin, chairman of MDEC. 

“As is, farming is fundamental to Malaysia’s economy and we have introduced various efforts to reach out to farmers to ensure there is growth and transformation.”

MDEC chief executive officer Surina Shukri said the remarkable rapid adoption rate of agriculture tech indicates that the youth of today are more open to the idea of digitally transforming this industry.

“It’s amazing to see how there are so many youths keen to go back into the agriculture sector,” she said.

“Even before Covid-19 hit, there was a growing surge amongst youths in the tech-powered farming space, and we have seen results through their innovative ideas.”

Abdul Razak Kasbollah, chairman of PPKKL, added: “It’s clear that digitalising agriculture means more than just improving operational processes, it is also about expanding the digital capabilities of the ecosystem and updating talent development and workforce skillsets.”