Food security, safety gains importance

Food security, safety gains importance

HADTHIAH PD HAZAIR
BRUNEI-MUARA

Wednesday, February 13, 2008

THE newly approved national development plan (NDP) 2007-2012, which has allocated $101 million for the agriculture department, will ensure increased efforts for Brunei to remain relatively unfazed should there interruptions to its food supply chain.

According to a statement released by the department, its plan includes concentrated efforts on the nation's food security programme and food safety. Stringent food safety measures will ensure that Brunei lives up to international standards and increase its export capabilities.

"By increasing our food security level, we are ensuring that food will remain available, edible and accessible to the citizens of Brunei," an official from the department explained to The Brunei Times.

"The agriculture department has already started its food security programme since the last decade," the statement reported.

Since then, Brunei has managed to attain 100 per cent food self-sufficiency in eggs and broilers.

However, according to a representative from the department, "it is not viable for Brunei to be self-sufficient in all commodities for reasons such as cost of producing and geographical aspects".

Statistics for the first quarter last year show that rice production too has increased. Other commodities that are being looked into in the food security programme are cattle, vegetables and processed foods.

In 2006, the agriculture sector contributed $58.4 million to the nation's gross domestic products (GDP), with a total production output of almost $172 million. By the first quarter last year, the sultanate recorded an 85 per cent self-sufficiency in local vegetables, and 33 per cent in tropical fruits.

With the extra emphasis on food security in the NDP 2007-2012, it is hoped that this sector would not only increase food self-sufficiency, but also cash in a lot more towards Brunei's GDP.

At the same time, the agriculture department will be undertaking food safety programmes. Projects will include the establishment of the Brunei Agricultural Laboratory Centre for livestock and crops

This will ensure that local produce remain safe for consumption. "Laboratory examinations on the health of farm animals and the safety of local crops and vegetables will be observed," the statement highlighted. The objective is to gain international standards and boost the sultanate's export potential.The Brunei Times