BERNAS INTRODUCES CHATBOT TO ASSIST FARMERS, DRIVING AI ADAPTATION IN PADI FARMING

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 23 (Bernama) -- 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.

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.

According to BERNAS’s Head of Farm Management, Mohd Zakri Zulkafli, it 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 said via a Zoom interview recently. 

He explained that farmers only need to provide basic information about their fields, such as the plot size, location, paddy variety, and crop age, to activate the chatbot. 

The system will then tailor its advice to their specific conditions, taking current weather forecasts into account before suggesting critical activities.

"For instance, if strong winds or heavy rain are predicted, the system will advise farmers to postpone pesticide spraying. This helps prevent the waste of resources, protects the environment and ensures that weed, disease and pest control are carried out more effectively," he said.

Mohd Zakri said Rakan Tani Pintar AI will undergo a 10-week pilot test with several farmer groups before its full launch in early 2026, which is expected to benefit registered padi farmers nationwide.

He also emphasised that the technology is not designed to replace the essential role of field officers. Instead, it is intended as an advisory tool, powered by a database of knowledge and expertise contributed by BERNAS's own agronomists and field staff.

"The Rakan Tani Pintar AI has undergone rigorous User Acceptance Testing. If any response is inaccurate or unsuitable for real field conditions, we will relay that feedback directly to the system developers for immediate improvement," he explained.

He stressed that this process is crucial to ensure every piece of AI advice is precise, practical and validated by field experts.

Mohd Zakri added that the chatbot also supports the implementation and monitoring of BERNAS's Large-Scale Smart Sawah (SMART SBB) programme, which is a key part of the national food security strategy, aligned with the 80 percent SSL target for rice by 2030.

He noted that the integration of modern technologies like drones, satellite imaging and AI is making the agricultural sector more professional and high-tech, thereby helping to attract a new generation of young people to the industry.

Mohd Zakri said 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 and ensure no one is left behind.

He reaffirmed that BERNAS remains fully committed to working closely with the government and relevant agencies to drive the transformation of the national padi sector and secure Malaysia's food supply.

-- BERNAMA