The Ministry of Primary Resources and Tourism (MPRT) has been allocated a BND112.34-million budget during the 20th session of the Legislative Council (LegCo) meeting yesterday.
Minister of Primary Resources and Tourism Yang Berhormat Dato Seri Setia Dr Haji Abdul Manaf bin Haji Metussin said BND41.77 million will be used for emolument, BND25.62 million for recurring expenditure and BND44.95 million for development expenses.
The minister noting the Sultanate’s progress in agriculture, fisheries, forestry and tourism in 2023 highlighted the importance of addressing food security.
Yang Berhormat Dato Seri Setia Dr Haji Abdul Manaf said efforts to boost food production are intensifying, with a number of programmes in planning and implementation phases.
The minister said there was a nine-per-cent decline in agriculture, agrifood and fisheries industry production, from BND786.92 million in 2022 to BND716.32 million in 2023, primarily due to a decrease in production values. The production of buffalo and cattle has decreased due to the import of fresh meat returning to normal level following the COVID-19 outbreak. Shrimp output has also decreased significantly due to diseases affecting farms.
Despite numerous challenges, the minister said Brunei still has 100 per cent self-sufficiency in poultry and eggs; 71 per cent for seafood; 72 per cent for vegetables; 42 per cent for fruits; and eight per cent for rice. – Rokiah Mahmud
