Boost rice production by commercialising sector

Boost rice production by commercialising sector

Bountiful harvest: The general manager of rice distributor Asia Enterprise said that if Brunei wants to enhance rice production, it should encourage local distributors to increase their yield. Picture: BT file
Adilah Ishak
BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN

Tuesday, July 22, 2008

BRUNEI needs to commercialise the production of rice if it is to increase rice production, according to the general manager of a local rice distribut0r.

Chai Yum Fatt from Asia Enterprise, which is the largest rice distributor in Brunei at present, added that the Agriculture Department should encourage local distributors to increase their yield towards boosting output.

Chai has been approached by the department to discuss the national need to cultivate more rice locally.

Recently, His Majesty the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam in his birthday titah said Brunei can no longer depend on other countries to export rice given the rising prices of food.

Currently, Brunei imports 97 per cent of its rice from Thailand, and grows the rest locally.

Last Saturday, July 19, His Majesty visited the Asia Enterprise rice fields in Kuala Belait to get a first-hand look at the process of rice production.

The firm has 30 acres of land designated for rice cultivation. They are able to harvest three times a year with 38 tonnes per harvest.The next harvest will be on July 27.

According to Chai, he had applied for more land to cultivate rice but has yet to receive a positive response.

Besides big businesses like Asia Enterprise, small rice cultivators also play an important role in enhancing the local rice industry.

However, small-time cultivators have found their efforts to boost their rice production hampered by lack of assistance from the agriculture department.

For instance, Inche Said Hj Ahmad, a former member of the Royal Brunei Armed Forces, has been cultivating rice since 2006. He specialises in beras pusu and sells the rice to friends and family as well as to the Agriculture Department.

However, he regularly faces problems with irrigation and pests. He has asked for help from the department, but received limited response.

Meanwhile, another rice cultivator who wished to remain anonymous said that she harvests her crops twice a year.

She has 35 acres of land reserved for rice plantation.

After His Majesty's titah, she hopes that the Agriculture Department will be more helpful in improving the harvest.

The agriculture department declined to comment on the issue. The Brunei Times