On October 3, 2024, Vietnam launched RiceMore, a rice monitoring and reporting system co-developed by the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) and the Department of Crop Production (DCP) as a part of the country’s digital transformation in agriculture. RiceMore provides near-real-time monitoring of rice production activities, streamlines rice value chains, and facilitates the adoption of low-emission farming practices. The tool is set to expand to 28 provinces and cities and integrate into the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development’s database by year-end. Agriculture is one of Vietnam’s eight priority areas for digital transformation, with a target to have 80 percent of agricultural data developed and continuously updated on a big data platform by the end of 2025. With Vietnam encouraging U.S. investments in local data centers, the sector presents opportunities for U.S. companies with expertise in cloud-based solutions to further expand their investment in Vietnam's agriculture sector.
Malaysia is advancing digital agriculture through private and public initiatives. On September 28, ZTE and U Mobile signed an MoU to drive 5G-powered smart agriculture solutions. The government launched the Sarawak AI Centre on October 16, featuring “AI for Smart Agriculture” to enhance crop yields. A World Bank report noted agriculture e-commerce nearly tripled from RM 155 million in 2015 to RM 441 million in 2022, with 7.3% growth this quarter. The World Bank suggests pilot projects in digital advisory, drone agrochemical spraying, and sensor-based irrigation, presenting collaboration opportunities for U.S. companies.
