AS PART of nationwide efforts to produce the highest standard of rice production in Brunei Darussalam, some 35 Agricultural Extension Staff (AES) members from all four districts including relevant officers from the Department of Agriculture and Agrifood are participating in a Training of Trainers (ToT) Course in Rice Production. Staff from Wasan Vocational School are also taking part in the course.

The project is organised by the Department of Agriculture and Agrifood, Ministry of Industry and Primary Resources, in collaboration with the Philippine Rice Research Institute (PhilRice), Department of Agriculture of the Republic of the Philippines.

The ToT Course in Rice Production was declared open yesterday by the Deputy Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Industry and Primary Resources, Pg Hjh Mariana binti PDNLDR Pg Hj Abdul Momin.

Among those present at the opening ceremony were the Philippine Ambassador to Brunei, Mr Alexander B Yano; the Director of Agriculture and Agrifood Department, Hjh Normah Suria Hayati binti PJDSM DSU
(Dr) Hj Mohd Jamil Al-Sufri; and senior officers from the department.

The main objective of the training course is to provide agricultural development necessities an effective and innovative “extension” approach. The agricultural extension staff had been identified beforehand as candidates for capacity enhancement activities, in line with the focus of the Government of His Majesty the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam on the development of the nation’s agriculture and rice self-sufficiency.

Meanwhile, the Agribusiness Development Division of the Department of Agriculture and Agrifood is also working to establish progressive, productive and successful farming communities in recognition of the important role agricultural extension staffs play in the empowerment of farmers.

In June, a “training needs assessment” was conducted to gauge the staffs’ levels of knowledge, training preferences and other training and information needs.

Specialists from the Philippines will be on hand to conduct the training for the local staffs. The project began on November 26 and will conclude on December 23.

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