Azlan Othman
Legislative Council (LegCo) members visited several agricultural and fisheries industrial sites in the Tutong District yesterday.
It was part of a series of visits organised by the Ministry of Primary Resources and Tourism (MPRT). Yesterday’s visit saw the LegCo members being briefed on entrepreneurship activities and development in the agricultural and fishery industries in Tutong.
Minister of Primary Resources and Tourism Dato Seri Setia Awang Haji Ali bin Apong joined 16 LegCo members and Permanent Secretary at the MPRT Hajah Tutiaty binti Haji Abdul Wahab and Deputy Permanent Secretary at the MPRT Mohd Yusree bin Haji Junaidi in the visit.
The first stop was the 200-hectare Sungai Penyatang Shrimp Farm owned by Golden Corporation Sdn Bhd. It began operation in 2002 and is managed by Richard Chuang Hsi Sha.
The company forged a joint venture with Oman Brunei Investment Company (OBIC) in 2019 to increase production capacity. It has 138 ponds, making it the largest shrimp farm in the country.
The farm’s total output in 2020 was 2,800 metric tonnes, worth BND23 million, compared to 390.76 metric tonnes, worth BND3.48 million in 2019.
The produce is sold both locally and exported to Australia, Japan, Singapore and China.
The company employs 97 workers comprising 92 foreigners and five locals.
The visit continued at PDS Abattoir Sdn Bhd, Batang Mitus Agricultural Development Area (KKP Batang Mitus). It is a government-linked company (GLC) with Darussalam Assets Sdn Bhd being the major shareholder.
The delegation was briefed on the company’s development before a tour of ruminant breeding and feedlot facilities.
In 2020, total livestock produced was 5,526 cows and 976 buffaloes.
The company employs 72 employees of which 38 are locals.
The visitors then headed to Green Technology Farm in KKP Batang Mitus. The company farms fruits, especially cavendish banana, on a 24-hectare site under a pilot project in 2018 to plant bananas. The farm is expected to start producing this year.
The company has five workers of which one is local.
The group’s last stop was Diyana ‘Aliah Enterprise at Lot 5 and Lot A in KKP Batang Mitus. The company, managed by Diyana ‘Aliah binti Abdullah, covers 10 hectares of land.
The farm was offered the site in 2019 to grow non-seasonal fruits with berangan and madu varieties of bananas as main crop.
In 2020, the company produced 4,765 kilogrammes of side crops worth BND7,875.49. It employs three workers comprising two locals and one foreigner.
The visits will continue tomorrow to agricultural and tourism sites in the Temburong District.