PRESS RELEASE
SABAH RANKS SECOND HIGHEST IN MALAYSIA FOR DIGITAL AGTECH SYSTEM USAGE
SANDAKAN, 16 February 2025 – The Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation (MDEC), the leading national digital economy agency under the Ministry of Digital (MD), organized the Jelajah Malaysia Digital (JMD) @ Sabah, focusing on the adaptation of Artificial Intelligence (AI) through the Malaysia Digital Agriculture Technology (Digital AgTech) initiative. This program aims to modernize the agricultural sector through digital technology to enhance competitiveness, productivity, and national food security, in line with MDEC’s appointment as the Strategic Technology Validator by the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security (KPKM).
Sabah is the second highest beneficiary of the Digital AgTech initiative nationwide, after Selangor. More than 70 Digital AgTech systems powered by IoT technology were implemented across Sabah in 2024, covering all agricultural sub-sectors, including crops, livestock, and aquaculture. In 2025, an additional 10 systems are targeted, with 5 Digital AgTech systems enhanced by Artificial Intelligence (AI) to be implemented in the aquaculture and livestock sub-sectors.
JMD @ Sabah is part of the government’s ongoing efforts to accelerate the digital ecosystem nationwide. This initiative aligns with the goal of increasing the digital economy's contribution to 25.5% of GDP by 2025 and supporting the creation of more than 500,000 new jobs.
Digital transformation in the agricultural sector is a key government focus, in line with the National Agrofood Policy 2021-2030 (DAN 2.0), the National Food Security Policy Action Plan 2021-2025, and initiatives under the National Digital Economy and Fourth Industrial Revolution Council (MED4IRN). To ensure sustainable growth in this sector, the government will continue to strengthen collaboration between the Ministry of Digital (MD), the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security (KPKM), the Ministry of Economy, and relevant agencies.
As the implementing agency of Digital AgTech, MDEC plays a key role in ensuring that digital technologies developed by technology partners benefit agropreneurs by enhancing efficiency in the agricultural sector. As of the end of January 2025, more than 600 Digital AgTech systems have been implemented nationwide, while over 30,000 agropreneurs have been trained to adopt the Internet of Things (IoT) and AI in their daily operations.
The Digital AgTech initiative, which spans all major agricultural subsectors in the country, empowers agricultural operations through real-time data-driven digital agricultural technology, increasing productivity, income, and reducing overall operational costs to address food security challenges through digital adoption.
Key achievements include up to a 20% increase in productivity, a 20% increase in income, and a 30% reduction in operating costs, driving digital transformation in the agricultural sector and strengthening national food security.
Digital AgTech has also provided significant benefits to the B40 community and attracted greater participation from youth, with more than 50% of participants under 40 years old, potentially generating additional annual incomes of up to RM10,000 through digital technology adoption.
JMD @ Sabah includes impact-sharing sessions on digitalization in agriculture and engagement sessions between agropreneurs and industry stakeholders to discuss challenges and opportunities in the Digital AgTech ecosystem.
The Jelajah Malaysia Digital @ Sabah launch was officiated by YB Tuan Gobind Singh Deo, Minister of Digital, alongside YB Datuk Chan Foong Hin, Deputy Minister of Plantation and Commodities. Also in attendance were YBhg. Datuk Mohd. Hanafiah Mohd. Kassim, Permanent Secretary of the Sabah Ministry of Science, Technology, and Innovation (KSTI), YBhg. Datuk Azah Hanim Binti Ahmad, Deputy Secretary-General (Policy) of the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security (KPKM), and YBhg. Datuk Ts. Fadzli Abdul Wahit, Senior Vice President of MDEC, along with senior officials from the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security (KPKM) and the Sabah Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Food Industry (MAFFI).
This program is also supported by MDEC’s strategic partners, including the Department of Agriculture Malaysia (DOA), the Department of Veterinary Services (DVS), the Department of Fisheries Malaysia (DOF), the Farmers’ Organization Authority (LPP), Agrobank, and other industry players in Malaysia’s Digital AgTech ecosystem.
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Issued by:
Corporate Communications Unit,
Ministry of Digital.
