Marching Towards Self-Sufficiency in Rice

BRUNEI Darussalam has embarked on the rice self sufficiency drive. The Ministry of Industry and Primary Resources through the Department ofAgriculture has reviewed the Government’s policy for rice. The short term and medium term targets in local rice production are 20 per cent by the year 2010 and 60 per cent by the year 2015 respectively (see Table 1). With His Majesty’s leadership and personal involvement in the project, we have already created the right momentum towards achieving these targets. Raising our production to such a level in such a short span of time will indeed require the support of all stakeholders.
Year   Self-Sufficiency   Total Area   Amount of milled
Targetted   Level   (hectares)   rice (metric tonnes)
2010   20 per cent   2,360ha   5,800
2015   60 per cent   5,360ha   18,000
Table 1 — Table showing the short term and medium term targets in terms of quantity of milled rice needed and level of self-suffiency
In achieving our targets, we are mindful of two important considerations, namely: the land availability and its readiness for planting; and their per hectare level of productivity. Given our constraints, not least finding suitable new land for paddy planting in a short time frame, increasing the productivity of the available land is thus becoming even more important. Some of the areas identified to achieve the set targets are:
DISTRICT   LOCATION   AREA
(HECTARES)
Brunei Muara   Wasan   230
Bebuloh   200
Belait   Lot Sengkuang   1,000
Temburong   Lekiun/Perdayan   700
Selapon   150
Senukoh   80
TOTAL   2,360
Table 2 — Table showing areas involved for short term plan
DISTRICT   LOCATION   AREA
(HECTARES)
Brunei Muara   Wasan   230
Bebuloh   200
Limau Manis   1,000
Belait   Lot Sengkuang   1,000
Labi Baru   260
Buau   1,000
Kandol   600
Tutong   Supon Kecil   955
Temburong   Lekiun/Perdayan   700
Selapon   150
Senukoh   80
TOTAL   6,175
Table 3 — Table showing areas involved for medium term plan
In order to reach these production targets within the timeframes set, the Department of Agriculture has formulated several plan of actions which include:
• Identifying suitable areas for commercial scale rice production taking into account the soil types, topography of the land and availability of fresh water;
•   Upgrading farm infrastructures such as farm roads, drainage and irrigation system and land levelling;
•   The use of High-Yielding Varieties (HYV) of rice which can be planted twice a year with a minimum yield of three tonnes per hectare per season and acceptable to the general public;
•   Improvement of farm management which includes weed management, fertilizer application and a systematic approach in pest and disease control;
•   Improving the supply of necessary farm inputs such as fertilizers, pesticides and herbicides;
•   Transformation of rice production systems towards mechanisation by encouraging the use of farm machineries such as rotavators, rice transplanters, combine harvesters, dryers and seed cleaners;
•   Establishment of new milling centres and rice storage facilities in each district in order to accomodate the sudden increase in paddy production;
•   Improvement of rice transportation system to the appropriate milling centres; and
•   Capacity building which includes intensive training of local rice experts and agriculture extension staffs and the transfer of relevant technology to the farmers through farmers field school.
Apart from the areas previously identified in order to achieve short-term and medium-term production targets, the Department of Agriculture continues its effort in finding new areas which could be developed. These areas were selected for immediate development on the basis of technical assessment. These areas will be ready for the November planting season. Amongst the important factors is the proximity of these areas to the water source. In demarking the areas, the Department has considered the state of the EDR and/or TOL of the surrounding areas.
The Department of Agriculture has also recently purchased various machineries including tractors, rotovators and transplanters which will be distributed to all districts in preparation for the following planting season. In order to cater the abrupt increase in local rice production as a result of double cropping and using high-yielding variety, the Department is in the process of building new milling and rice storage centres in all districts.
Notwithstanding the popularity of Laila, the Department of Agriculture continues to assess other potential varieties which are more superior in terms of yield and other important agronomic traits. The acceptability of the potential varieties by the general public will also be tested through sensory tests during expositions and through field trials. The Department of Agriculture is not only exploring the use of inbred varieties but also hybrids.
Since the department is currently promoting double cropping, the upgrading of irrigation and drainage system in all major rice plantation sites are imperative. The Department of Agriculture has awarded a consultant to build a proper irrigation and drainage system in Wasan, Bebuloh and surrounding areas. The other major plantation areas will also be upgraded in the near future and the tendering process is still ongoing.
Apart from exploring other high yielding rice varieties and improving the existing farmers’ farm management capabilities, the Department is also exploring other production models including commercial scale farming. This is opened to foreign direct investment to ensure optimum production, improved efficiency and cost effectiveness. This approach, however, does not mean that the Department is abandoning the small holding farmers or the traditional planting done by the “Kampong People”. In fact, improving their productivity is part of the strategic plan. Delivering water to the existing farm is an ongoing process and is being accelerated, Other support schemes, such as fertilizer, pesticide/herbicide, seedlings and machinery will still continue.
As part of its continuing effort in promoting good agriculture management, the Department of Agriculture will also set up farmers field schools in major rice plantation in all four districts. In preparation for the set up of these schools, the Department is sending its officers and extension staffs for training at various institutes such as Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice) and Hunan Rice Research Institute, People’s Republic of China.
The Department programme includes provision of basic infrastructures such as roads, drainage and irrigation system. For the smallholders, the Department will provide incentives given to the commercial sector in addition to other various special incentives such as a subsidised prices for seedlings, various chemical inputs and machineries.
The importance of all stakeholders including the traditional farmers cannot be stressed enough. The Department of Agriculture will continue to talk directly with them ultimately to deliver the production targets of 2010 and 2015, in an efficient, cost effective and sustainable manner.