The Ministry of Primary Resources and Tourism (MPRT) yesterday hosted a ceremony at Lekiun Agricultural Development Area (KKP Lekiun) in Temburong District where a variety of rice for non-irrigation paddy farms was harvested.
Chinese Ambassador to Brunei Darussalam Xiao Jianguo, the guest of honour, was accompanied by Permanent Secretary at the MPRT Hajah Tutiaty binti Haji Abdul Wahab and Deputy Permanent Secretary I at the MPRT Haji Mohd Yusree bin Haji Junaidi.
The ambassador said they came to Temburong District to fulfill a promise he made with the permanent secretary three months ago.
The ambassador added, “Today we saw that these rice plants are growing well, with heavy golden rice ears and full grains. This shows the high-yield rice trial achieved an initial success.
“Today’s harvest is a good start for the two countries to deepen cooperation on hybrid rice. In the future, China will continue to strengthen cooperation with Brunei in terms of hybrid rice seeds and expert guidance, and provide more support.
“Hoping that under the joint efforts of the two sides, the aspiration to increase Brunei’s rice production will be realised at an early date for the better benefit of the people.
“Looking ahead, the prospects for China-Brunei agricultural cooperation are bright. Last November, our heads of state reached an important consensus in San Francisco, emphasising to strengthen cooperation in the areas of food security, agriculture, etc.
“China is willing to work with Brunei to actively promote the implementation of the important consensus of the two heads of state, to expand and deepen practical cooperation in the field of agriculture, and to make positive contributions to the stability and progress of bilateral relations”.
The seedlings of three rice varieties – AWD101, AWD102 and AWD 103 – were planted on December 14, 2023 at KKP Lekiun as part of a suitability study to develop the local paddy industry using high-yielding hybrids from China.
Currently, research is being carried out not only in irrigated farms, such as KKP Wasan and KKP Batang Perhentian, but also non-irrigation sites like KKP Lekiun, to find rice varieties that support the vision of the MPRT in increasing paddy yield in the Sultanate. The MPRT, through the Department of Agriculture and Agrifood, is teaming up with Hunan Hybrid Rice Research Centre in China to find rice hybrids suitable for the conditions in Brunei, in particular non-irrigated farms. According to the ministry, the study will run for at least three years, from the selection of rice varieties to large-scale farming. – James Kon
