In line with efforts to diversify the country’s economy, the Ministry of Primary Resources and Tourism (MPRT) continues to strive to increase the output and productivity of the primary resources and tourism industries in line with the ministry’s Strategic Plan 2020-2022.
This is based on four strategic thrusts – growth, productivity, exports and resilience to achieve the vision towards rapid output growth of the primary resources and tourism industry that can contribute to economic growth and achieve food security for Brunei Darussalam.
In statistics recorded by the Department of Agriculture and Agrifood as of October 2021, according to the Agriculture and Agrifood Road Map and Target 2021- 2030, the ministry targets BND20.57 million in export and BND743.03 million in production value by 2025.
The production value is targetted to reach BND1.4 billion by 2030. From January 2022 to June 2022, commodity statistics show the market value for agriculture and agrifood were BND161.96 million for livestock, BND28.54 million for plantations and BND71.84 million for agrifood. Overall market value was BND262.34 million.
For the livestock industry, statistics show a market value of BND69.25 million for poultry meat (chicken), BND15.37 million for eggs, BND23.68 for buffalo and cow meat, BND0.41 million for lamb and mutton meat, BND33.22 million for livestock food, BND1.29 million for variety of livestock, BND7.60 million for seeded eggs and BND11.14 million for chicken hatchery. Overall market value was BND161.96 million.
Plantation industry statistics from January 2022 to June 2022 were recorded as BND14.14 million for vegetables, BND5.78 million for fruits, BND3.23 million for paddy, BND2.68 for a variety of plantations, BND2.69 million for ornamental plants and BND0.02 million for cut flowers. Overall market value was BND28.54 million.
Agrifood industry statistics from January 2022 to June 2022 meanwhile recorded that value added livestock processed product is BND54.63 million, value added processed livestock products BND2.62 million, and others (food and beverages) BND14.59 million totalling BND71.84 million.
Developing high-yield paddy varieties is a core strategy of the Department of Agriculture and Agrifood to boost the country’s rice production.
High-yield paddy Titih is a collaborative project between the Department of Agriculture and Agrifood, and Singapore’s Sunland Agritech Pte Ltd, with an average productivity yield of six to eight metric tonnes per hectare per season. It is potentially more productive than previous varieties such as Laila which has an average production of three metric tonnes per hectare per season.
High-yield paddy Titih is a collaborative project between the Department of Agriculture and Agrifood, and Singapore’s Sunland Agritech Pte Ltd, with an average productivity yield of six to eight metric tonnes per hectare per season.
In 2018, the Sembada 188 hybrid from Indonesia’s PT Biogene Plantation was introduced with a yield of five to six metric tonnes per hectare per season. Sembada 188 underwent a series of trials in Brunei since 2015 and was tested alongside other variants. The Sembada 188 was chosen based on planting criteria, productivity level, compatibility with local soil, and the taste and texture of rice.
The Department of Agriculture and Agrifood is working to identify more high-yielding paddy varieties through research with regional and international institutions. A joint research project with China’s Yuan Longping High-Tech Agriculture Co Ltd, started in October 2021, is exploring varieties with a potential yield of around 10 metric tonnes per hectare per season.
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