| James Kon & Rokiah Mahmud |
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 yesterday visited five plantations and livestock farms to take a closer look at the latest innovations and agricultural technologies being applied by local entrepreneurs.
Accompanying His Majesty were His Royal Highness Prince ‘Abdul Malik and His Royal Highness Prince ‘Abdul Mateen.
His Majesty’s first stop was a farm at the Brunei Agriculture Research Centre in Kampong Kilanas, managed by five participants of the Asnaf Zakat Empowerment Programme (PROPAZ), under the auspices of the Brunei Islamic Religious Council (MUIB).
His Majesty was welcomed by Minister of Religious Affairs Pehin Udana Khatib Dato Paduka Seri Setia Ustaz Haji Awang Badaruddin bin Pengarah Dato Paduka Haji Awang Othman in his capacity as the President of MUIB and Minister of Primary Resources and Tourism Dato Seri Setia Awang Haji Ali bin Haji Apong.
The farm is situated on a 1.1-hectare plot which grows chillies, vegetables and corn.
His Majesty’s next visit was at the RZ Prisma Enterprise Farm, which is also located at the Brunei Agriculture Research Centre.
Situated on a one-hectare plot, RZ Prima Enterprise Farm produces high-value vegetables and fruits through the greenhouse and hydroponic systems.
The farm is one of the pilot projects under the Department of Agriculture and Agrifood, which commenced in 2017.
His Majesty was greeted upon arrival by Manager of the RZ Prisma Enterprise Farm Pengiran Dato Paduka Haji Abdul Rahman bin Pengiran Seri Indera Pengiran Haji Ismail.
His Majesty then visited the Ameenfarm Agrotech and Trading Farm, which is also located at the Brunei Agriculture Research Centre.
His Majesty’s arrival was greeted by Manager of Ameenfarm Agrotech and Trading Farm Haji Irwandy bin Haji Lois.
The four-hectare farm uses the fertigation and greenhouse methods to produce various kinds of vegetables, tomatoes and fruits. It is also one of the pilot projects under the Department of Agriculture and Agrifood which commenced in 2016.
Haji Irwandy explained that 70 per cent of the land has been used for cultivation. The harvested produce is sold to local supermarkets, walk-in customers and business clients. Last year the farm harvested six tonnes of vegetables, which has increased to nine tonnes worth BND33,007.74 in September this year.
His Majesty then toured Riza Fudhlana Farming, which utilises a closed-system poultry coop that can house between 20,000 and 23,000 chickens in each cycle.
Located at the Tanah Tuah Agricultural Development Area, the company began operations in 1994, before adopting the new closed-system method in 2014, on a four-hectare plot of land.
His Majesty’s arrival was greeted by Manager of Riza Fudhlana Farming Pengiran Haji Haris bin Pengiran Haji Duraman, as well as several officials from the farm.
After inspecting the closed-system method, His Majesty planted a Belian Simpur tree and posed for a group photo with the officials of Riza Fudhlana Farming.
Pengiran Haji Haris also presented a pesambah to His Majesty.
His Majesty’s final stop before proceeding to launch the high-yield paddy field was Ladang Syarikat Tunas Harapan Agricultural Farm Sdn Bhd, located at Sibongkok Agricultural Development Area (KKK Sibongkok) in Kampong Masin.
Upon arrival, His Majesty was greeted by Manager of Ladang Tunas Harapan Agricultural Farm Sdn Bhd Lau How Teck.
The farm pastiches the greenhouse system and drip irrigation on a 20-hectare land. The plantation includes vegetables and non-seasonal fruits.
Lau explained that they began operations in 2000 on 20 hectares of land. In 2006, they developed a 12-hectare plot for more crop-planting and in August 2017, another 20 hectares of land was approved for agricultural farming.
“Our main business is broiler poultry, with eight houses. We also grow leafy vegetables, fruit vegetables, star fruit, rambutan, papaya, guava, dragon fruit, chiku fruit, and others. For now, we are supplying to all Hua Ho Department Stores across the country,” he said. Up until September this year, the farm has harvested 103.68 tonnes of crops worth BND282,449.17
His Majesty also received a pesambah in the form of produce from the farm, before posing for a group photo with Lau and his family members.