YB Tuan Joshua Woo
ADUN, Pulau Tikus
2. Yang Berbahagia Datuk Seri Khor Teng Tong
Founder, Hunza Group
3. Mr Murali Krishnamurty
CEO and Co-Founder, BoomGrow
4. Mr Kugan Thirunavakarasu
Chief Innovation Officer, CelcomDigi
Members of the media,
Ladies and gentlemen
Salam Sejahtera dan Salam Malaysia MADANI
1. Thank you for having me at this event today. It’s always good to be back in Penang.
2. We have seen remarkable advancements in agriculture over the last years. But the evolution of farming has certainly accelerated in recent decades, namely after the Green Revolution globally globe in the 1940s to 1960s. The transfer of technology then resulted in increased production of food grains. This was extremely important in developing nations that were struggling to feed their people.
3. We have come a long way since. And it is remarkable to see how digital solutions are now being used in agriculture. Private companies and local governments in Japan, for example, are working together to address an aging and shrinking workforce. Robotractors and 5G-connected robots allow farmers in Japan to remotely monitor crops in multiple fields from a single location. Robots powered by 5G also help farmers remotely spray pesticides, cut grass, and perform other physically demanding tasks that would otherwise be strenuous on the aging workforce.
4. In India, Reliance Jio’s 5G IoT solutions are revolutionising agricultural practices and cattle rearing in villages there. The IoT device gathers real-time data from farms, including soil monitoring, water levels, and weather conditions. This data empowers farmers to make informed decisions, ultimately leading to enhanced crop yield while also reducing costs.
5. These are just some of the ways technology, specifically 5G, is used in modern farming. Precision agriculture, using 5G-powered modular IoT, enables smart automation for rapid analytics and precise field management that can monitor climate, soil moisture, and pH levels, among others, to ensure high yields. 5G-enabled sensors attached to farm animals can be used to monitor the animals’ health, feeding patterns, reproductive cycle, and increase productivity of cattle.
Ladies and gentlemen,
6. The agriculture sector in Malaysia contributed 7.2% to the nation’s GDP in the second quarter of this year (2024). This was a huge jump as the sector had contributed 1.7% in the first quarter of the year. By digitalising farming methods, I am confident the agriculture sector will be able to contribute more to the nation’s GDP.
7. A November 2021 report from EY entitled “Estimating the economic impact of the Single Wholesale 5G Network in Malaysia” projected a 2.6% increase to the sector’s GDP contribution in 2030. That is equivalent to a RM3.5 billion incremental uplift. Now, the MADANI Government is in the process of rolling out the second 5G network. This move will certainly boost the contributions of all sectors, including agriculture, to the nation.
8. The Ministry of Digital is playing its part in encouraging modern farming. The Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation (MDEC), an agency under my Ministry, has the Malaysia Digital AgTech initiative. It is carried out in collaboration with stakeholders and ecosystem partners to digitally empower the national agriculture sector. By integrating digital technologies such as IoT, Big Data Analytics (BDA), AI, and DroneTech, Malaysia Digital AgTech aims to increase producyivity, enhance quality, boost income, reduce operational costs, optimise plantations, and foster further participation. Some of the Digital AgTech pilot projects include smart fertigation, smart water monitoring and drone technology. Ultimately, such an initiative will boost the nation's Digital Economy.
9. It simply boils down to collaborations. Today, we witnessed yet another partnership, between BoomGrow and CelcomDigi. I commend both companies for coming together to revolutionise farming through the power of 5G, artificial intelligence (AI) and extended reality technologies.
10. This reminds me of an event I attended as the Communications and Multimedia Minister in 2019. It was the 5G Malaysia Demonstration ceremony in Langkawi. The vegetables served at the event were cultivated from the nation’s first 5G farm, harvested earlier in the morning, prior to the event. They were free of pesticide, herbicide and equally important, it was a Malaysian Intellectual Property. And the vegetables were thanks to BoomGrow!
11. BoomGrow has managed to grow vegetables in containers. I’ve been made to understand that the produce from one container is equivalent to an acre’s supply of an outdoor farm. The produce is fresher, tastes better but more importantly, such a concept is able to feed more people in Malaysia, and across the globe. And it is thanks to technology.
12. With Malaysia’s strong 5G infrastructure, we have immense potential to drive positive impact in this sector. This will enable our farmers to participate in the digital age, and benefit from the numerous opportunities.
13. Such technological revolutions will not only preserve our environment but also secure our food supply, strengthen our economy, and elevate Malaysia as a leader in sustainable agriculture across Southeast Asia.
14. In fact, I have been told that AI and IoT are among the technologies that will be showcased at the 100th edition of the Malaysian Agriculture, Horticulture, and Agro Tourism Exhibition (MAHA) next month. I truly hope this will encourage more farmers to adapt and adopt digital initiatives.
Ladies and gentlemen,
15. The journey towards realising the full benefits of 5G must be undertaken through public and private collaborations. Since the inception of 5G in Malaysia, we have witnessed many fruitful partnerships driving 5G development in the country. I encourage more corporate players to continue exploring innovative and creative 5G use cases that can drive entrepreneurship and create new business models.
16. This Government remains committed to bolstering 5G infrastructure and adoption. While doing so, we will ensure there’s digital trust and that we continue developing talents. As we embark on this journey together, let us remember that the seeds we plant today will determine the harvest of tomorrow.
17. Together, let us embrace the opportunities 5G and emerging technologies can offer, drive innovation, and ensure that Malaysia leads the way in the digital era.
Thank you.
