Kuala lumpur: The increased funding for the national padi sector announced by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim in Budget 2026 will fast-track padi field infrastructure upgrades and support farmers with subsidies and other initiatives.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, to support the government's goal of increasing the national rice Self-Sufficiency Level (SSL), Padiberas Nasional Berhad (BERNAS) is adopting modern technology to boost the industry's competitiveness and farmer productivity. A key initiative is the Rakan Tani Pintar AI chatbot, a digital agronomy expert designed for more efficient padi field management, which is accessible directly via WhatsApp.
Mohd Zakri Zulkafli, BERNAS's Head of Farm Management, stated that the chatbot provides farmers with immediate daily advice on fertiliser use, disease control, and work schedules. "Furthermore, farmers can ask questions in Malay, English, or any dialect using text or voice recordings and receive precise, immediate answers," he noted during a recent Zoom interview.
He further explained that farmers only need to provide basic information about their fields, such as plot size, location, paddy variety, and crop age, to activate the chatbot. The system then tailors its advice to specific conditions, incorporating current weather forecasts before suggesting critical activities. "For instance, if strong winds or heavy rain are predicted, the system will advise farmers to postpone pesticide spraying, helping prevent resource waste and ensuring effective control of weeds, diseases, and pests," he added.
Rakan Tani Pintar AI will undergo a 10-week pilot test with several farmer groups before its full launch in early 2026, expected to benefit registered padi farmers nationwide. Mohd Zakri emphasized that the technology is not intended to replace field officers but serves as an advisory tool, powered by a knowledge database contributed by BERNAS's agronomists and field staff.
He stressed the importance of rigorous User Acceptance Testing for the chatbot, ensuring all AI advice is precise, practical, and validated by field experts. The chatbot also supports the implementation and monitoring of BERNAS's Large-Scale Smart Sawah (SMART SBB) programme, a crucial element of the national food security strategy aligned with the 80 percent SSL target for rice by 2030.
Mohd Zakri highlighted the integration of modern technologies like drones, satellite imaging, and AI, which are transforming the agricultural sector into a more professional and high-tech industry, attracting a new generation of young people. He noted that the platform is a collaborative effort between BERNAS, the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security (KPKM), the National AI Office (NAIO), and The Hive Global AI Village (GAIV) to train padi farmers for the sector's digital transition.
He reaffirmed BERNAS's commitment to working closely with the government and relevant agencies to drive the transformation of the national padi sector and secure Malaysia's food supply.