Digital Technologies and Small-Scale Rural Farmers in Malaysia

Malaysia is moving toward a digital economy as outlined in Malaysia Digital Economy Blueprint. In agriculture, digital technologies like the Internet of Things (IoT), Artificial Intelligence (AI), robotics, and drone have been introduced in large-scale farming. These technologies enable smart farming, which makes farming activities more efficient, productive, and sustainable. However, the digital divide can pose a challenge to the digitalization process. Rural areas are associated with limited access to technological infrastructure, low levels of digital skills, and technology literacy that may hinder the adoption of digital technologies. Hence, the main objective of this study is to gain an in-depth understanding of the effect of digital technology on small-scale rural farmers. Data were collected through interviews and a total of fifteen small-scaled farmers participated in the study. The findings show that the adoption of digital technologies contributes to efficiency but it does not improve the well-being and income of small-scale farmers in rural areas. The implication highlights the necessity for policymakers to consider different models for the inclusion of small-scale rural farmers in the digitalization process.