| Nuri Sufri |
FARMING is a profitable business that will not only benefit and diversify Brunei’s economy, but it will also improve the livelihood of its people, decrease the unemployment rate by building on human capacity and enable the country to reach its aspiration to food self-sufficiency.
This was stated by Hajah Suria Zanuddin, Head of Agricultural Development Unit, during a ceremony presenting certificates to 26 farmers who have successfully completed a course in the Rice Farmers Field’s School (RFFs) yesterday at the Agricultural Development Unit Brunei-Muara District, the Department of Agriculture and Agrifood, Ministry of Primary Resources and Tourism.
Present as guest of honour was Hajah Khartini binti Haji Musa, Acting Deputy Director of Agricul-ture and Agrifood, who presented the certificates to the participants, as well as the head of develop-ment, officers and employees of the Department of Agriculture and Agrifood and teachers of RFFs.
The initiative aims to enhance bilateral relations between the Department of Agriculture and Agrifood, Ministry of Primary Resources and Tourism at the Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice) in the development of human capacity in technology transfer management of rice plantation.
A group photo taken at the ceremony with the guest of honour Hajah Khartini binti Haji Musa, Acting Deputy Director of Agriculture and Agrifood, Ministry of Primary Resources and Tourism. – NURI SUFRI
Since its inception in 2010, the Rice Review System (SP) is applied to RFFs as a guide to improve and update the farmers’ knowledge on the selection of seed quality, land preparation, plant growth, nutrient management, water harvesting and post-harvest rice, as well as managing the production of quality rice via Agro-ecosystem Analysis (AESA).
The department also monitors the collection of rice data of 120 farmers from the Brunei-Muara District, 53 from Tutong, 74 from Belait and 43 from the Temburong District, in an ongoing effort to improve on best practices and management of the rice yield in the country.
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