The Department of Agriculture has deepened its partnership with the Malaysian Space Agency, advancing the use of space and geospatial technology to transform the nation’s agricultural sector. This strategic cooperation is designed to enhance planning, management, and monitoring, ensuring that agriculture evolves into a more data‑driven and resilient industry.

The collaboration was formalized through the exchange of a Strategic Cooperation Note during the Malaysian Agriculture, Horticulture and Agrotourism Exhibition 2026. It builds on a relationship established in 2017, when both agencies began integrating remote sensing, geographic information systems, and information technology into applications and databases supporting rice crop management.

Department of Agriculture Director‑General Datuk Nor Sam Alwi emphasized that space technology enables comprehensive monitoring of paddy fields, achieving full coverage while cutting investigation time for land use classification by half. This efficiency accelerates data collection and updates, while also supporting more systematic and targeted management of government subsidies. With updated spatial data derived from satellite imagery, agriculture officials are positioned to deliver more accurate advisory services to farmers.

MYSA Director‑General Datuk Azlikamil Napiah highlighted that the expanded collaboration will strengthen analytical capabilities and promote data‑driven decision‑making across the sector. The focus will include system and application empowerment, research and innovation sharing, advanced data analysis, and the transfer of technology and expertise to improve officer competence.

Both agencies envision the partnership as a platform for sharing expertise and innovation in geospatial technology. The effort is expected to generate targeted solutions for agricultural resource management, crop monitoring, and agro‑food sector development planning.