BUKIT MERTAJAM, Sept 16 (Bernama) -- The average gross income from padi production among Large-Scale Smart Padi Field (SMART SBB) participants in Kampung Sama Gagah and Kepala Bukit here increased by 127 per cent, from RM3,580 to RM8,120 per hectare, following a rise in yield from 1.79 tonnes to 4.06 tonnes per hectare.
The improvement involved 57 padi farmers across the 119-hectare project area, highlighting the impact of more systematic padi field management introduced by Padiberas Nasional Berhad (BERNAS).
SMART SBB BERNAS Permatang Pauh project leader Halmi Desa said his own experience showed an even more significant improvement, with yield increasing from 2.4 tonnes per hectare in Season 1/2025 to 6.4 tonnes per hectare in Season 1/2026.
“Before joining SMART SBB, my padi yield was only around 2.4 tonnes per hectare, equivalent to an income of RM4,800 per hectare. After adopting the management approach introduced by BERNAS, the yield increased to 6.4 tonnes, with income reaching RM12,800 per hectare,” he said.
The increase from RM4,800 to RM12,800 represented an additional RM8,000 per hectare, or about 167 per cent, in a single planting season.
SMART SBB is an initiative by the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security (KPKM), implemented by BERNAS through a group farming management model involving coordinated farm work schedules, working capital financing for eligible participants, modern mechanisation, as well as technical and agronomic support.
Halmi said timely farm activities based on crop requirements had resulted in more organised padi field management, contributing to higher yields.
The Sama Gagah and Kepala Bukit groups joined the programme in 2025 and are now entering their third season of implementation. The project area also expanded from about 95 hectares in Season 2/2025 to 119 hectares in Season 2/2026, reflecting growing confidence among farmers in the group farming approach.
Previously, farmers faced several challenges, including limited capital, rising operating costs, unpredictable weather and water supply issues, as well as padi diseases and pests that affected yields and income.
“Through SMART SBB, padi field management is carried out in a more organised manner through farm work schedules, the use of suitable agricultural inputs and machinery, as well as continuous monitoring by BERNAS’ technical team and agronomy experts.
Every stage of cultivation, from land preparation, planting, fertilisation and pest control to harvesting, is coordinated according to crop requirements and local conditions,” Halmi said.
Eligible participants can also obtain working capital financing to help manage financial needs at the start of the planting season. BERNAS provides field technical officers and conducts regular monitoring to ensure recommended farming practices are implemented throughout the season.
Through smart farming practices, participants can also obtain crop-related advice via an artificial intelligence (AI) assistant platform on WhatsApp, particularly when dealing with weather changes and crop issues requiring faster information.
Halmi said the approach had not only improved yields but also transformed the way farmers managed their padi fields. Initially, some participants were hesitant to accept the group farming management concept as it required them to follow a more structured work schedule.
“However, after witnessing improved yields in the first season, more farmers became confident and were willing to follow the recommended practices and guidance,” he added.
One of the most meaningful moments throughout the project implementation was seeing farmers who had nearly given up regain their confidence after achieving better yields. The increase in productivity also encouraged them to continue viewing padi cultivation as a sustainable source of family income.
The experience was also shared by Kamarudin Ismail, 64, an asnaf padi farmer who has cultivated padi for more than two decades and joined the programme two seasons ago.
Kamarudin said that before joining the programme, most farmers managed their fields individually, making activities such as pesticide spraying and disease control difficult to carry out simultaneously.
“The most significant change is the increase in income. Previously, I managed the padi field alone with uncertain yields, but now production has continued to improve.
“Most importantly, the working capital financing provided by BERNAS helps us manage farm requirements at the start of the season, especially as agricultural input and operating costs continue to rise,” he said.
Kamarudin, who relies fully on padi cultivation as his source of income, said his life was now more stable. He was grateful that the improved income not only enabled him to support his family but also allowed him to pay zakat from his padi earnings.
Halmi said the success of the programme depended not only on financial support but also on farmers’ discipline, continuous monitoring and close cooperation between BERNAS, implementing agencies and participants.
The implementation of the programme in the area also involved cooperation from the Penang Agriculture Department, Penang Integrated Agriculture Development Area (IADA), Penang Irrigation and Drainage Department, and Area Farmers’ Organisation.
According to Halmi, the achievements in Kampung Sama Gagah and Kepala Bukit demonstrated that systematic management, technical support and farmers’ cooperation could improve yields and returns. The transformation also opened opportunities for the younger generation to view the padi sector as a viable industry with economic potential.
“Padi is not just a food source, but a heritage that must be preserved for the country’s future,” he said.
-- BERNAMA