Agricultural Technology Success Measured by Yield Growth and Higher Income for Farmers, Says Mohamad Sabu

KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 25 — Technology adoption in the agricultural sector can only be deemed successful if it directly translates into increased crop yields and higher income for farmers, says Agriculture and Food Security Minister Datuk Seri Mohamad Sabu.

Speaking following the 11th Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Food Security Ministerial Meeting in Hangzhou, China, Mohamad Sabu noted that international discussions focused on the practical application of artificial intelligence (AI) and modern technology in agriculture.

“AI is important, technology is important. But ultimately, the true measure of success is not how sophisticated our systems are, but whether farmers’ yields increase, their income rises and the people’s food supply remains sufficient. Only then is technology truly useful,” Mohamad stated in a Facebook post tonight.

Mohamad Sabu shared Malaysia’s ongoing initiatives to modernize the national agricultural sector, specifically highlighting the Large-Scale Smart Padi Field (SMART SBB) programme. The initiative currently involves 18,650 padi farmers across 92 locations covering more than 46,500 hectares nationwide.

He noted that the integration of mechanisation, structured management, and modern farming methods has enabled certain areas under the SMART SBB programme to achieve padi yields of between six and seven metric tonnes per hectare.

Sharing his personal experience with agtech, Mohamad Sabu highlighted his involvement in tilapia farming using the biofloc system, which yields approximately 450 kilogrammes of fish per six-metre diameter tank.

“If we want to formulate policies for farmers and breeders, we must occasionally ground ourselves and experience their work firsthand, so we know which technology truly helps,” he added.

–NMT