BERNAS to Pilot Solar Irrigation and Autonomous Paddy Farming Machinery

en.Wedoany.com Reported - On September 3, Malaysia's national rice company BERNAS unveiled for the first time a mobile solar-powered irrigation system and an autonomous driving system for paddy farming machinery, while outlining the pilot arrangements for the next phase. The solar irrigation equipment is scheduled to be introduced into BERNAS's large-scale SMART SBB paddy farming program between end-2026 and early 2027, while the autonomous driving system will enter pilot trials in selected SMART SBB paddy projects in Selangor, Perak, and parts of the northern Malay Peninsula after MAHA 2026 concludes.

The solar irrigation system features a modular, mobile design equipped with solar-powered water pumps, enabling remote monitoring and water management operations via a dedicated application. The same set of equipment can be shared by multiple paddy farmers in the same area, with a designed irrigation capacity of approximately 2 hectares of paddy fields per day. BERNAS is currently conducting cost-benefit analysis to determine the final equipment design and cost before deciding on the configuration for large-scale deployment.

Traditional irrigation pumps currently used in paddy fields primarily consume petrol or diesel. According to operational data provided by BERNAS, fuel expenditure for a conventional pump running approximately 6 hours per day ranges from RM40 to RM60. The solar solution is still in the technical demonstration and cost validation phase; BERNAS plans to first introduce the equipment to participating paddy farmers through the SMART SBB system after completing the relevant assessments.

The other autonomous driving system, jointly developed by BERNAS with SCS Group and Topcon Positioning Asia Malaysia, can be installed on paddy transplanters and harvesters. The system utilizes satellite navigation to enable machinery to travel automatically along pre-set routes, while operators are still required to remain in the driving seat to monitor equipment operation and safety conditions. The system reduces route overlap during transplanting and harvesting processes, while also recording data such as actual working area, operating hours, and fuel consumption.

The SMART SBB program currently operated by BERNAS covers approximately 3,900 hectares of paddy fields, encompassing about 65 projects and over 1,200 paddy farmers, with implementation areas spanning the Malay Peninsula as well as Sabah and Sarawak. BERNAS has listed mechanization and agricultural technology as key components of SMART SBB implementation, and the solar irrigation and autonomous paddy farming machinery will respectively enter subsequent introduction and field trial phases through this program system.