| Aziz Idris |
IN A bid to achieve food self-sufficiency and security, the Ministry of Primary Resources and Tourism (MPRT) has set a new target to increase paddy production from 2,000 metric tonnes in 2015 to 7,700 metric tonnes by 2020.
This can be achieved with the introduction of a high-yielding hybrid rice variety named ‘Titih’ which has proved to boost rice production to 8.5 metric tonnes per hectare in a season, said YB Dato Seri Setia Awang Haji Ali bin Haji Apong, the Minister of Primary Resources and Tourism, during his motion of thanks at the 14th Legislative Council (LegCo) meeting, yesterday afternoon.
The minister said continued cultivation of paddy on a larger scale represents a key step in responding to 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 titah at the opening of the 14th LegCo session which called for stepping up efforts to implement policies to ensure food security in the country.
The minister said this step involves several approaches including upgrading the farm infrastructure, especially drainage and irrigation systems, roads and other related facilities. “These efforts also include the introduction of ‘Titih’ paddy. Insya Allah, we will achieve self-sufficiency in rice production from six per cent in 2015 to 20 per cent by 2020,” he noted.
The minister further explained that the current ‘Laila’ paddy strain produces three metric tonnes per hectare in one cycle (per year), however, the ‘Titih’ strain can produce almost double the quantity per cycle (twice a year), especially at well-irrigated and fertile paddy plantations.
Suitable areas identified by the MPRT for the successful cultivation of ‘Titih’ are in Wasan, Panchor Murai, Batong, Limau Manis and other low-lying areas that receive adequate water supply from nearby rivers and rainfall.
He was quick to note the challenges faced by the local farmers in cultivating rice which include the high acidity of soil, lack of rivers as main source of water supply unlike in neighbouring countries like Thailand, Myanmar and Cambodia.
Despite the challenges, the minister was delighted to note that other paddy plantation areas in Belait, Tutong and Temburong districts have maintained the production of Brunei Darussalam Rice 5 (BDR5) at two-five metric tonnes per season, despite dependency of thse areas only on rainfall.
“MPRT has also collaborated with international institutions to conduct research to produce a higher yielding paddy variety that can produce up to 12 metric tonnes per hectare in a season. If this becomes a reality, our nation will increase production to achieve 30 per cent rice self-sufficiency by 2020.
“I believe we can achieve this vision with the combination of cultivation of high yielding paddy varieties, upgrading of water irrigation system and support from our local farmers,” noted YB Dato Seri Setia Awang Haji Ali.