KPK Focuses On Technology, Innovation To Drive Agri-commodities Sector
SEREMBAN, May 12 (Bernama) -- The Ministry of Plantation and Commodities (KPK) is intensifying its focus on technology, data and innovation to drive a smarter, more sustainable and resilient national agriculture and agricommodities sector, Minister Datuk Seri Dr Noraini Ahmad said.
She said the sector’s future would no longer depend solely on land size or labour force, but increasingly on the ability to fully harness modern technology and innovation.
“In today’s global context, a nation’s ability to produce food and agricultural commodities efficiently, intelligently and sustainably is no longer just an economic advantage. It is now a matter of national resilience and strategic security,” she said in a speech read out by her deputy Datuk Seri Huang Tiong Sii at the National Agricultural and Food Engineering Convention (NAFEC) 2026, organised by the Malaysian Palm Oil Board (MPOB) here today.
Also present was MPOB director-general Datuk Dr Ahmad Parveez Ghulam Kadir.
Noraini said the two-day convention, themed “Revolutionising Field Operations: Automation, Digitalisation, AI and Future Ready Technologies”, was timely as the world grapples with geopolitical tensions, climate change, global supply chain uncertainty, labour shortages, rising production costs and sustainability pressures.
She added that Malaysia should not remain merely a consumer of global technology, but must emerge as a creator, developer and exporter of agricommodities-related technologies relevant to global needs.
“In the palm oil industry, we have already seen various innovations developed by local researchers, including mechanisation technologies such as the CANTAS motorised harvesting tool, the use of drones for estate monitoring and digital plantation management systems,” she said.
Noraini said KPK remained committed to driving the transformation, including strengthening policies and incentives to accelerate technology adoption and automation, while enhancing research and development through institutions such as MPOB.
“This also includes developing a workforce with high-level digital and technological skills, as well as encouraging the development of locally made machinery and equipment to reduce reliance on imported technology,” she said.
-- BERNAMA