KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 9 (Bernama) -- National research and development (R&D) extends beyond the laboratory, turning innovations into practical solutions that directly benefit the public, said Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation Datuk Chang Lih Kang.
He said R&D is focused on rural communities through the empowerment of smart agriculture, water management and climate change adaptation.
Chang highlighted that a key initiative is the Rice Crop Geospatial Information System (MakGeoPadi) by the Malaysian Space Agency (MYSA), which is now used in 12 major rice-growing regions covering 206,000 hectares.
“The use of high-resolution satellite imagery allows for precise identification of actual rice planting areas, speeding up and reducing costs in the targeted distribution of government rice subsidies to eligible farmers.
“In addition, the soil profile module in the system helps agricultural agencies conduct preliminary assessments of padi field conditions and plan appropriate remedial actions,” he said during the oral question-and-answer session in the Dewan Rakyat today.
He was responding to a question from Datuk Muhammad Bakhtiar Wan Chik (PH-Balik Pulau) on the ministry’s strategy to ensure that national innovations reach rural communities and small enterprises.
Chang added that the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation (MOSTI), through MYSA and the Department of Minerals and Geoscience Malaysia, is leveraging remote sensing technology to identify underground water resources.
He said the initiative, which began in the Muar River Basin, now benefits around 10,000 residents across 11 villages facing water supply shortages, including areas in Johor and Kelantan.
Chang also noted that the development of the Floating Flood Disaster Command Centre (FLOODCOM) is being deployed in flood-prone areas under the Kampung Angkat MADANI initiative.
-- BERNAMA
