484 hectares in Belait eyed for farm goods production

484 hectares in Belait eyed for farm goods production

SOBRINA ROSLI
BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN

Thursday, July 24, 2008

THE Department of Agriculture is looking for farmers and agricultural companies interested in participating in the development of a 484-hectare land to help ease the country's dependence on farm commodities.

"Some farmers have shown interest in taking up the offer to develop the Bukit Sawat land (in the Belait district), confirmed players are still being awaited," Mohammad Sufri Abdullah, acting director of the department, said in an interview with The Brunei Times yesterday.

"We are looking for more farmers who are willing to take up the offer."

Various proposals have been received to develop the land, including projects to breed goats and chicken, he said.

Among the challenges in realising this agricultural development plan is attracting farmers and companies willing to develop land located in urban areas such as the Bukit Sawat area, he explained.

"Most investors would want the location to be nearest to them such as in Bandar, but places like Bukit Sawat are still considered far for them."

It could not be immediately verified as of yesterday what types of incentives await farmers and companies that will take up the offer to participate in this agricultural land development.

Moreover, the property has yet to be gazetted to the Department of Agriculture. Only after this is done will the department be authorised to push through the project.

"The problem we usually have is that the land has not been gazetted to the agriculture department. The land is still under the Ministry of Development. We are waiting for that," he said.

During His Majesty the Sultan of Brunei's 62nd Birthday Titah, His Majesty called upon government agencies concerned to develop a strategic plan and a national agricultural policy to guarantee national food security.

Brunei's rice production over the last 30 years had dropped by a drastic 74.5 per cent. In 1977, Brunei produced 4,259 tonnes of rice. Last year, this dropped 72.5 per cent to 1,084 tonnes. Brunei's rice production hit a record high of 9,766 tonnes in 1974.

During the 4th Legislative Council Meeting earlier this year Pehin Orang Kaya Setia Pahlawan Dato Seri Setia Dr Awg Hj Ahmad, the Minister of Industry and Primary Resources, said that Brunei Darussalam's self-sufficiency in rice was 3.2 per cent in 2007. Local production stood at 895.3 metric tonnes while total consumption was 31,082 metric tonnes in 2006.

The Brunei Times