KUALA LUMPUR, The RM5 billion allocation for efforts to transform the agricultural sector is set to revolutionise and further boost the country's padi and rice industry, thus, improving the farmers' livelihoods. Padiberas Nasional Berhad (Bernas) said that the measures would also drive the growth and adoption of cutting-edge technologies, which could then attract the younger generation to venture into the agriculture industry. "The announcement is timely and in line with Bernas' efforts as a key driver under the Large-Scale SMART Padi Field (SMART SBB) programme to advance the local padi and rice industry,' it said in a statement today. Yesterday, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said in his speech at the Malaysia Agriculture, Horticulture and Agrotourism Exhibition (MAHA) at the Malaysia Agro Exposition Park Serdang (MAEPS) that the government is planning several mega projects in the agricultural sector, including the first phase of a large-scale padi cultivation initiative, with a total project v alue of RM5 billion. The statement today also added that Bernas, through the SMART SBB programme, has started adopting the use of the Internet of Things (IoT) and modern mechanisation, in line with the efforts of the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security (KPKM) to drive the productivity of the national padi sector. Bernas is also developing a farm management system to monitor large-scale padi fields more efficiently, which is further supported by an early detection system for padi diseases and infestations. Source: BERNAMA News Agency