PRESS RELEASE
For Immediate Release
BERNAS Pioneer ‘Rakan Tani’ To Transform Malaysia’s Rice Industry
Malaysia’s First AI Co-Pilot for Paddy Farmers
SHAH ALAM, 22 August 2025 – Malaysia’s rice industry has entered a new era as Padiberas Nasional Berhad (BERNAS) unveils Project ‘Rakan Tani’, a first-of-its-kind WhatsApp-based Artificial Intelligence (AI) co-pilot designed to guide paddy farmers through every stage of the cultivation cycle.
This groundbreaking initiative, developed with the Ministry of Digital’s, National AI Office (NAIO), the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security (MAFS), and The Hive’s Global AI Village, marks a significant leap in applying AI directly to the fields and turning the ‘AI untuk Rakyat’ vision into a practical reality for the people who feed the nation.
As the custodian of Malaysia’s rice supply, BERNAS is spearheading the integration of AI into agriculture, ensuring that technology adoption begins where it matters most, with farmers. Leveraging its nationwide network and decades of cultivation expertise, BERNAS has ensured Rakan Tani is not just innovative, but farmer-friendly, culturally relevant and easily available.
Accessible via WhatsApp in Bahasa Malaysia or English (and soon in other local languages), the AI co-pilot is like putting an “expert farming advisor” in every farmers’ pocket. Rakan Tani offers hyper-personalised, real-time guidance on best farming practices aligned with BERNAS’ Jadual Kerja Ladang (JKL), including soil and crop fertility management, pest, disease and weed control, while adapting to each farmer’s unique field conditions based on location, paddy variety and crop age.
“This is more than technology. It’s about securing our food future,” BERNAS said in a statement. “We are committed to equipping farmers with the tools and knowledge they need to thrive, while ensuring Malaysia’s rice industry remains strong and sustainable.”
Sam Majid, Head of the National AI Office, added: “The Rakan Tani partnership between NAIO-BERNAS is a powerful embodiment of Malaysia's AI Nation vision, which is centred on leveraging AI to empower every citizen. It directly addresses the agrofood sector as a key focus area under our National AI Action Plan, proving that AI is a force for socioeconomic transformation. By bringing advanced intelligence directly to our farmers' fingertips, we are not only strengthening our national food security but also raising the livelihoods and productivity of the very people who sustain our nation. This is how we build a resilient, technology-powered future for all Malaysians.”
The pilot phase of Project Rakan Tani is currently being tested under BERNAS’ SMART Large-Scale Farming (SMART SBB) initiative, connecting farmers and field officers through a cross-sector partnership. The National AI Office provides strategic policy direction in line with Malaysia MADANI, BERNAS contributes domain expertise, farmer networks and leadership in AI-driven agriculture, and The Hive’s Global AI Village delivers advanced AI engineering capabilities.
“Rakan Tani showcases the transformative role that AI can play in optimising outcomes for Malaysians in critical verticals like agriculture. Furthermore, this is a Malaysian solution that has vast potential to impact agriculture in ASEAN and beyond”, said Bjarte Olsen, Managing Director of the Global AI Village.
As Project Rakan Tani evolves, BERNAS will refine the tool based on farmer feedback, paving the way for nationwide adoption. The goal is to create a resilient, technology-empowered agricultural sector that safeguards livelihoods and strengthens Malaysia’s food security for generations.
About BERNAS
Established in 1994, BERNAS assumed the pivotal role of custodian for Malaysian paddy and rice, succeeding the corporatised Lembaga Padi dan Beras Negara (LPN). With over three decades of dedicated service, BERNAS has emerged as a cornerstone in Malaysia's paddy and rice industry, earning recognition as a steadfast partner in promoting food security and sustainability.
At the heart of our mission is the enduring slogan, "Nourishing the Nation," epitomizing our unwavering commitment to delivering premier products and services to our homeland. Grounded in the principles of Integrity, Customer Focus, and Teamwork, we uphold our responsibilities with utmost dedication, harmonizing the needs of all stakeholders and maintaining the highest standards of quality throughout our comprehensive supply chain.