Malaysia’s Muda Agricultural Development Authority (MADA) is exploring the use of Toshiba’s Weather Data Service in the country’s flagship smart farming initiative, Projek Ladang Padi IR4.0. The authority has signed an MoU with Toshiba Digital Solutions and Malaysia’s MyDIGITAL Corporation to explore how the service can further the smart farming initiative’s objectives.

Toshiba launched its Weather Data Service in Japan in May 2023. It employs real-time radar data and the company’s proprietary analytics software. These enable it to provide accurate forecasts of localised downpours and their intensity.

As part of its global expansion of the business, Toshiba signed an MoU with MyDIGITAL in February 2024 to explore the technology’s application in Malaysia. Through this ongoing collaboration, Toshiba began discussions with MADA to assess the potential use of the service in MADA’s flagship smart farming project, Projek Ladang Padi IR4.0.

Established in 1972, MADA leads Malaysia’s largest agricultural development initiative, focused on enhancing rice productivity, farmer livelihoods and regional economic growth in the Muda region of Malaysia’s north-west peninsula. The current smart farming project, supported by government funding, integrates digital technologies to transform rice farming in the region.

Supported by MyDIGITAL, Toshiba and MADA will carry out a pilot project to evaluate how Toshiba’s Weather Data Service can support agricultural decision-making in rice cultivation.

In the pilot, Toshiba will analyse real-time weather radar data from the Malaysian Meteorological Department and forecast the likelihood and intensity of localised heavy rainfall. Alerts based on the analysis will be sent to MADA as needed, and MADA will use water gates to manage water flow in rice paddies. This process is expected to reduce the impact of the rainfall and protect the rice crop from damage.