A major win for local rice farmers is potentially on the horizon as one of the most popular fast food franchises in the country looks to incorporate the home grown Sembada paddy variety into their menu.
The McDonald’s franchise in Brunei, operated by Makan Ceria Sdn Bhd is conducting an “internal sensory evalutation” and is in the initial phases of introducing Sembada rice to the menu, said McDonald’s Brunei Quality Assurance Associate Nur Adinah binti Haji Abdul Hamid in an interview.
“We are actively seeking feedback from our customers at the moment,” she said.
Sembada rice, also known as Sembada188, is a high-yield hybrid rice variety developed in 2018 through collaboration between the Department of Agriculture and Agrifood and Indonesia’s PT Biogene Plantation Company.
Sembada is said to yield five to six tonnes per hectare per season, a vast improvement to its predecessor, the Laila variety, which yielded around three tonnes per hectare and is no longer cultivated.
McDonald’s Brunei had incorporated Laila rice into their porridge dishes, but stopped after it was faced with Laila’s limited and unstable supply challenges.
Nur Adinah also believed that Sembada rice presents a healthier option for those managing their food intake or adhering to specific dietary requirements, attributing benefits to Sembada’s “pesticide free” label.
McDonald’s Brunei plans to purchase 400 to 500 bags, each weighing 10 kilogrammes, monthly from the Wasan Milling Company Sdn Bhd, which produces the rice.
McDonald’s Brunei noted that the positive reception received by Sembada rice, both in terms of quality and its pesticide-free attributes, positions it to emerge as the preferred choice among Bruneians and holds promising potential in international markets.
The company said commitment to this collaboration underscores its role in spearheading positive change towards a more sustainable and locally-focused food industry.
This also contribute to the broader economic and agricultural landscape of the Sultanate. – Rokiah Mahmud
