| Syazwani Hj Rosli |
THE Ministry of Primary Resources and Tourism (MPRT), through its Department of Agriculture and Agrifood, officially opened the 2017 Agriculture and Agrifood Mini-Expo at the Centre Plaza of the Yayasan Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Complex in the capital yesterday, which runs until November 5.
Minister of Primary Resources and Tourism Dato Seri Setia Awang Haji Ali bin Haji Apong attended as the guest of honour.
Also present were high commissioners and ambassadors to Brunei Darussalam, Legislative Council members, permanent secretaries and deputy permanent secretaries, as well as senior officers, officers and staff members of the MPRT.
The mini-exhibition is being held in conjunction with the Golden Jubilee Celebration of His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izzaddin Waddaulah ibni Al-Marhum Sultan Haji Omar ‘Ali Saifuddien Sa’adul Khairi Waddien, Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam’s Accession to the Throne, as well as to mark Farmers, Livestock Breeders and Fishermen’s Day 2017.
Themed ‘Stimulating Productivity Through Technology,’ the expo is an attempt at realising one of the chief features of the MPRT’s Strategic Plan of 2016-2020 – to boost productivity through the use of modern technology and techniques, in addition to reducing unit costs in the long run.
In addition, the expo hopes to further encourage a sense of competitiveness among local entrepreneurs, enabling them to venture into the international market.
More than 50 local agricultural entrepreneurs are currently taking part in the expo to showcase various technologies, such as the feedlot system and closed-house system for poultry breeders; and the fertigation technique, hydrophonics and vertical farming for crop farmers.
Speaking to the Bulletin, Dato Seri Setia Awang Haji Ali expressed hope that more local farmers would turn to technology to boost production, particularly given the wide range of agtech practices that can be based on any type of budget.
He also disclosed that the Department of Agriculture and Agrifood, along with several local agricultural entrepreneurs, have agreed to conduct awareness talks at villages to educate the public on the use of modern technology in agricultural practices.
“Through such initiatives, local entrepreneurs who are already successful will be able to share their knowledge and experiences with the public, who in return, will learn more about the processes involved in agriculture,” he said.
“Those interested in an agricultural career will then be given basic training in hydrophonics, fertigation and other methods by the local entrepreneurs.
“We are urging more local youths to take up careers in agricultural farming. We also look forward to practising organic farming in the future, which is healthier and safer for consumption among local buyers, as well as for export outside of Brunei,” said the minister.
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