MalaysiaGIS.com

Source: New Straits Times

Rice cultivation projects in Tanjung Karang, Selangor and oil palm plantations in Teluk Intan using these methods have shown significant increase in crop yield, enabling more such projects to be introduced throughout the country.

Malaysian Centre for Remote Sensing (Macres) director Datuk Nik Nasruddin Mahmood described precision agriculture as the next big thing and a necessity in the agriculture sector. Precision agriculture is essentially the use of the latest satellite-based technology to determine how to use agricultural input such as fertilisers and water at the right time, location and amount.

"In the present practice, fertiliser for example is applied in a blanket manner, irrespective of whether the soil requires it or not. With precision agriculture, we analyse the status on the ground, the soil content and what is required," he said.

Using assorted high-tech hardware such as remote sensing technology, Geographic Information System (GIS), Global Positioning System (GPS) and sensor technology, he said, precision farming is the way forward to achieve the country's objectives under the Third National Agricultural Policy.

With Malaysia now equipped with its very own ground receiving station for remote sensing in Temerloh, the country is now able to receive real time data and images transmitted directly from satellites instead of having to rely on foreign sources. The station is one of 20 in the world.

Nik Nasruddin said the pilot project for rice cultivation in Tanjung Karang would be followed by another project called the Selangor Northeast padi farming scheme near Sabak Bernam.

"With the pilot project's results, we should be able to make a proposal to the Government on how to address the agriculture production for the nation. The equipment for precision agriculture is already here and the Government will have to look at the bigger scenario of investment.

"Precision farming is a necessity and for us to improve production it is the way to go. In developed countries they are already using this for wheat cultivation," he said.

With the help of the Department of Agriculture and Mardi, he said, it was hoped precision agriculture would enable the production of 10 tonnes of padi per hectare.

An early warning system, using analysis of humidity, rainfall and wind levels, will be used to determine whether an area is susceptible to pest attacks.

Nik Nasruddin said Malaysia was the pioneer in precision farming in Asean, with a fully developed programme operational in the next few years.

The first Asian Conference on Precision Agriculture, with the theme "Remote Sensing and other Smart Farming Technologies for Precision Agriculture in Asia", will be held from May 11 to May 13 at the Legend Hotel.

Nik Nasruddin said the conference was the first of its kind and would increase awareness of the potential use and integration of remote sensing, GPS and GIS.