Rice target: Brunei on track

Over 1,000 hectares opened up for farming

MORE than 1,000 hectares of land area in Brunei-Muara District have been opened up and used for rice production in order to stay on track to achieve the nations's target of 20 per cent self-sufficiency in rice for this year, the Director of Department of Agriculture and Agrifood (DAA) said yesterday.

Speaking to The Brunei Times during a harvesting event organised by The Brunei Youth Council at Wasan Padi fields, Director Hjh Normah Suria Hayati PJDSM DSU (Dr) Hj Mohd Jamil Al-Sufri, who is also the event's guest of honour, said the number included new areas that were recently opened in Kg Panchor Murai, Kg Junjungan and Kg Batong.

"All and all in Brunei-Muara, from a total of over 400 hectares, we've expanded to over 1,000 hectares," she said.

She calculated the three new areas should consume land area of about 675 hectares at full scale.

The Wasan padi fields currently have an area of about 280 hectares and Kg Bebuloh has about 80 hectares for padi plantation, Hjh Normah said, adding that another new area would open at South Wasan padi fields with an area of 70 hectares.

"Of course, this is all to ensure that we keep up with the rest (padi fields nationwide) to stay on track towards achieving the 20 per cent target (self-sufficiency in rice)," she said.

The director also mentioned DAA's options of countering slight problems, including irrigation and water management problems, that arose at Kg Junjungan, one of the newly opened areas.

"For Junjungan, it's a bit challenging (to supply water) as it is a bit far from Imang (water dam)... but we are now looking into bore-hole water supply and also other means," she said.

Hjh Normah added, "Imang has only 800 hectare capacity so we either need to expand Imang or look for other sources, so we are working with the engineers at the moment to explore all other possibilities, whichever is more practical."

She added that DAA should be able to reassess the target right after the second harvest this year in August or by the end of December.

The event was aimed at providing first-hand experience for the youth and educate them on the process of padi planting, which Hjh Normah said is vital for them to learn. "Today is mainly about awareness, to introduce how rice is being harvested; how difficult it is."

President of the council, Associate Professor Dr Hj Hashim Hj Abd Hamid said that some youths were unaware of the whole process. "They should know about this for them to realise the importance of the project in the country. They will also be the future role models of the country so it is important for them to know," he said.

Some 70 participants aged between 15 to 40 took part in the harvest held at one of the lots owned by a local farmer, Jaluddin Hj Tiga.

The Brunei Times