ABSTRACT
Trade deficits in the agro-food sector have become persistent in Malaysia since 1989 as it continues to balloon, which has made the country dependent on imports. Consequently, it has exposed the country to the vicissitudes of volatile fluctuations in import prices as exporters tend to cut back on exports to meet their domestic consumption needs of inferior goods. Import prices are also highly dependent on exchange rates, which has worsened in 2022 as the Ringgit has shown trend fall against currencies of the import-source countries, such as Thailand and Indonesia. While most countries are facing stagflation since the start of 2022, imported inflation from essential food items has exacerbated inflation in Malaysia. It is in line with the need to raise food security that this chapter focuses on digitalizing the fertigation and irrigation system in small-scale food farming, as it shall not only raise crop yield through better connectivity and coordination but also reduce sharply waste. The present technique is laborious in nature as human labour remains instrumental for effective monitoring and handling of the fertigation process, which is inefficient and does not augur well for a country that has become dependent on foreign labour. Hence, the chapter argues for the digitalization and automation of the fertigation system to accelerate crop yield and reduce dependence on foreign labour. Additionally, such technological transformation should also attract the younger generation to participate in agro-business as it will help shed the “rural industry” stigma that has acted as a barrier to entry so far.
