KUALA LUMPUR: National research and development (R&D) extends beyond the laboratory, turning innovations into practical solutions that directly benefit the public, says Science, Technology and Innovation Minister Datuk Chang Lih Kang (pic).
He 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 206,000ha.
“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 Dewan Rakyat yesterday.
He was responding to a question from Balik Pulau MP Datuk Muhammad Bakhtiar Wan Chik on the ministry’s strategy.
In the Bernama report, Chang said the Science, Technology and Innovation Ministry, through MySA and the Minerals and Geoscience Department Malaysia, is leveraging remote sensing technology to identify underground water resources.
