Agriculture Industry Park plan for Tutong

THE Department of Agriculture and Agri-Food (DAA) is planning to create an Agriculture Industry Park in Tutong to develop the district's agricultural industry.

The area is located at a recently gazetted land of 1,348.32 hectares around the Batang Mitus to Padnunok area in Tutong, according to YB Pehin Orang Kaya Seri Utama Dato Seri Setia Hj Yahya Begawan Mudim Dato Paduka Hj Bakar, the Minister of Industry and Primary Resources during the 6th Legislative Council Meeting yesterday.

"The mid-term plan is to formulate a master plan for each of the areas in order to accommodate development in the agriculture and agri-food in unison with infrastructure that will include a main road to the field, water supply, electricity, domestic raw water and other needs," said the minister.

The minister also said that the park would also be offered for Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) participants in an effort to bringing agriculture and agri-food activity to a larger scale.

"All of this has been discussed in shaping the Master Plan for the Tutong district," said the minister.

Additionally, the minister outlined several other economic diversity projects that Tutong district will have in the near future.

In the fisheries sector, 40 hectares in the Telesai Sg Paku phase two is currently being used to breed fish utilising the re-circulatory system.

"Currently, preparations for basic facilities such as roads, electricity, salt and clean water supplies are being conducted and are expected to be completed in December this year," he said.

Meanwhile, basic facilities for the 459 hectares of land at the Telisai Phase Two has been completed, said the minister.

"Currently 200 hectares of land are undergoing clearing to make way for a Tiger Prawn breeding facility, which is expected to be completed in March 2011," said the minister.

He added that 10 hectares of land was being used for a project involving a research and development facility for prawn breeding utilising the Raceway System is currently being carried out in Telisai, Sg Pasu Phase 1.

"These activities which have been implemented are hoped to pave way for employment opportunities, creating a prawn and fish breeding industry for the export market and creating of a downstream industry, such as food processing, food supplies and so on," he said.

Other initiatives which the minister listed for the development of Tutong include developing the forestry industry by attracting private sector in downstream processing and adding value to wood, manufacturing besides activities in the service industry, fishery, showroom and workshop, recreational gym and a cineplex.

The minister also said a cultural hall was being built for Tasek Merimbun visitors to strengthen eco-tourism in Kuala Tutong. The Brunei Times