MyDIGITAL, MADA and Toshiba Partner to Advance Smart Farming in Malaysia

PETALING JAYA, 4 July 2025 – MyDIGITAL Corporation (MyDIGITAL), the Muda Agricultural Development Authority (MADA), and Toshiba Digital Solutions Corporation have formalised a strategic tripartite Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to transform Malaysia’s agricultural sector through cutting-edge artificial intelligence (AI) and digital innovation.

The MoU marks a significant step forward in the nation’s smart farming journey. By integrating Toshiba’s advanced Weather Forecast Data into MADA’s flagship Projek Ladang Padi IR4.0 (Pintar4U), the collaboration aims to enable predictive, data-driven farming practices that improve decision-making, optimise yields, and build resilience against climate variability.

The use of Toshiba’s Weather Data Service (TWDS) is expected to enhance paddy crop management through faster and more precise forecasting. This allows for timely decisions regarding pesticide and fertiliser applications, based on real-time weather data for the next 10, 20, and 30 minutes, helping farmers adjust operations according to changing conditions.

MADA also plans to combine TWDS data with on-site weather station inputs and long- range forecast technologies to develop a Yield Prediction Model. This integration has the potential to significantly improve crop performance when compared to traditional methods.

Based on studies conducted in Japan, Vietnam, and by the FAO, similar weather forecasting interventions in rice farming have demonstrated:

• A net yield increase of 7–10%, thanks to reduced crop loss from weather- related damage.
• Operational cost savings of 5–12% through optimised input usage and better allocation of labour and machinery.
• A combined net profit improvement of approximately 10–15% versus business- as-usual (BAU) practices.

While the initiative is still in its pilot phase, MADA will undertake a proof-of-concept study at the PPSB Bohor A site (42.322 hectares) to assess actual crop yields, cost efficiency, and input savings before and after TWDS implementation.

The initiative will also see the active involvement of the National AI Office (NAIO), which is incubated under MyDIGITAL to spearhead the adoption of AI across key sectors. As one of NAIO’s early flagship coordination efforts, this project offers a glimpse into the office’s strategic mandate to align digital solutions with national priorities. NAIO will be responsible for facilitating the collaboration, overseeing implementation milestones, and ensuring that the integration of Toshiba’s technology delivers measurable impact to the agricultural sector, while strengthening Malaysia’s digital capabilities.

The MoU signing was witnessed by Shakib Ahmad Shakir bin Jamaluddin, Deputy Secretary General (Strategic & Management) Ministry of Digital, and Dato’ Seri Norazman Ayob, Deputy Secretary General (Policy) Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, underscoring the strong multi-stakeholder support behind this initiative.

Pintar4U is a strategic component of Malaysia’s broader ambition to future-proof its agro-food systems. The partnership supports national objectives under the Digital Economy Blueprint and 4IR Policy by fostering cross-border collaboration, driving digital capacity building, and improving farmer livelihoods through sustainable technology adoption.

The MoU sets out a one-year collaboration framework, with automatic renewal and room for future implementation agreements.

This collaboration reflects Malaysia’s growing leadership in the responsible use of digital technologies. It sets a strong example of how public-private partnerships can reimagine agriculture, placing farmers at the centre of innovation, and ensuring food systems remain resilient, inclusive, and future-ready.