PRESS RELEASE
JELAJAH MALAYSIA DIGITAL @ KEDAH EMPOWERING DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION IN THE AGRICULTURE SECTOR
AYER HITAM, 10 February 2025 – The Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation (MDEC), the nation’s leading digital economy agency under the Ministry of Digital (KD), has organized the Jelajah Malaysia Digital (JMD) @ Kedah, focusing on the adoption of Artificial Intelligence (AI) through the ‘Malaysia Digital Agriculture Technology’ (Digital AgTech) initiative. This program aims to modernize the agricultural sector through digital technology to enhance competitiveness, productivity, and strengthen national food security, in line with MDEC’s appointment as the Strategic Technology Verifier by the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security (KPKM).
JMD @ Kedah is part of the government’s continuous efforts to accelerate the digital ecosystem across the country. This initiative aligns with the target of increasing the digital economy’s contribution to 25.5% of GDP by 2025 and supports the creation of over 500,000 new jobs.
Digital transformation in the agriculture sector is a key government focus, in line with the National Agrofood Policy (DAN 2.0), the National Food Security Policy Action Plan, and initiatives under the National Digital Economy and Fourth Industrial Revolution Council (MED4IRN). To ensure the sustainable growth of this sector, the government will continue to strengthen collaboration between the Ministry of Digital (KD), the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security (KPKM), the Ministry of Economy, and relevant agencies.
As the implementing agency for Digital AgTech, MDEC plays a crucial role in ensuring that digital technology developed by technology partners benefits agropreneurs by enhancing the efficiency of the agricultural sector. Since its launch in November 2023, more than 600 Digital AgTech systems have been implemented nationwide, and over 30,000 agropreneurs have been trained to adopt the Internet of Things (IoT) and AI in their daily operations.
Through this initiative, a total of 40 Digital AgTech systems have been implemented across the state of Kedah, covering all major agricultural sub-sectors, including crops, livestock, and aquaculture in 2024. Additionally, 15 additional Digital AgTech projects leveraging IoT and AI, with an estimated value exceeding RM300,000, will be implemented by 2025 to further drive digital technology adoption in Kedah’s agricultural sector.
The Digital AgTech initiative, spanning all key agricultural sub-sectors in Malaysia, including crops, livestock, and fisheries/aquaculture, empowers agricultural operations by integrating real-time data-driven digital agricultural technology. This adoption enhances productivity, increases income, and reduces overall operating costs in efforts to address food security challenges through digital adoption.
Among the significant achievements recorded are productivity increases of up to 20%, income growth of up to 20%, and operational cost reductions of up to 30%, driving digital transformation in the agricultural sector and strengthening national food security.
Digital AgTech also provides substantial benefits to the B40 community and attracts greater youth participation, with over 50% of participants under the age of 40 and the potential to generate additional income of up to RM10,000 annually through digital technology adoption in Malaysia’s agriculture sector.
JMD @ Kedah features site visits to AI-driven aquaculture facilities, sharing sessions on the impact of digitalization in agriculture, and engagement sessions between agropreneurs and industry stakeholders to discuss challenges and opportunities within the Digital AgTech ecosystem.
The launch ceremony of the Jelajah Malaysia Digital @ Kedah was officiated by YB Tuan Gobind Singh Deo, Minister of Digital, alongside YBhg. Datuk Azah Hanim Binti Ahmad, Deputy Secretary-General (Policy), Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security (KPKM), and YBhg. Datuk Ts. Fadzli Abdul Wahit, Senior Vice President of MDEC, as well as senior officials from the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security (KPKM) and the Department of Fisheries Malaysia (DOF).
This program is also supported by MDEC’s strategic partners, including the Department of Agriculture Malaysia, the Malaysian Agricultural Research and Development Institute (MARDI), the Farmers’ Organization Authority (LPP), Agrobank, Pacton Technologies, Blue Archipelago Berhad, and other industry players in Malaysia’s Digital AgTech ecosystem.
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Issued by:
Corporate Communications Unit,
Ministry of Digital.
