| Syazwani Hj Rosli |
BRUNEI needs to accelerate the growth of agricultural output for the diversification and growth of economy. The participation of more investors, including youth for this sector should also be encouraged, Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Primary Resources and Tourism Pengiran Haji Kamalrudzaman bin Pengiran Haji Mohd Ishak said.
“We also need to introduce various agricultural technologies and techniques to increase the productivity of this sector,” he said. He made these remarks in a welcoming address when a delegation of experts led by Thai Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Cooperatives Dr Wiwat Salyakamthorn shared their knowledge and experiences during a talk session at the Institute of Brunei Technical Education (IBTE) Agro-Technology Campus in Wasan yesterday.
“Our objective is to increase our rice production and the self-sufficiency level, which currently stands at five per cent,” he said.
Pengiran Haji Kamalrudzaman emphasised that Brunei seeks to learn from Thailand’s experiences in terms of managing acid sulphate soil, and also in the area of drainage and irrigation for rice production, as these are among the issues and challenges that Brunei is currently facing.
Among the highlighted topics during the session were agricultural soil management, the management and improvement of acid sulphate soil, and the conventional irrigation systems that are practised in Thailand.
Pengiran Haji Kamalrudzaman said that agricultural development has played a major role in the Thai economy, and that the total GDP of Thailand in 2016 was recorded at USD407.1 billion, of which 6.3 per cent was from the agricultural sector, including fisheries.
A presentation on ‘Business Opportunities in Agriculture and Agrifood Industry in Brunei Darussalam’ was delivered by Dr Diana Dennis from the Department of Agriculture and Agrifood, followed by a series of lectures from the Thai experts.
Deputy Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Education Dr Chin Wei Keh, Charge d’Affaires at the Royal Thai Embassy in Brunei Darussalam Rooge Thammongkol; and Director of Agriculture and Agrifood at the Ministry of Primary Resources and Tourism Hajah Aidah binti Haji Mohd Hanifah also participated.
