In striving to achieve national food security and to increase rice production to 20 per cent in 2010, the Ministry of Industry and Primary Resources (MIPR) has identified new paddy planting areas in Brunei-Muara District.
His Majesty the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam yesterday consented to officiate the laying of the foundation stone for the new paddy planting areas which will use the latest technology and mechanisms in paddy planting.
The new paddy planting project is the Agricultural Development in Planting Paddy Project in Batong and Panchur Murai (Kawasan Kemajuan Pertanian Projeck Penanaman Padi Batong dan Panchur Murai). It is an addition to the existing paddy planting sites in BruneiMuara District, namely, at Wasan and Bebuloh.
His Majesty was greeted on arrival at the Agricultural Development in Planting Paddy Project in Batong by Pehin Orang Kaya Seri Utama Dato Seri Setia Awang Haji Yahya, the Minister of Industry and Primary Resources, and senior officers from the ministry.
His Majesty signed a plaque to signify the start of paddy planting in Batong.
The monarch also viewed transplanter machines carrying `Laila’ rice. A total area of 170 hectares has been allocated at Batong to the Department of Agriculture and Agrifood by MIPR. The works include constructing the infrastructure in the area, which comprises drainage and irrigation.
Initially, `Laila’ rice will be used during the earlier planting stage, whilst high-yielding varieties or hybrids will be introduced at a later stage. His Majesty then went to the Agricultural Development in Planting Paddy Project in Panchur Murai.
The project is collaboration between the Department ofAgriculture and Agrifood and Landevel Sdn Bhd, a company based in the Republic of Korea which has brought the latest technology and mechanisms in rice planting to the Sultanate. This project covers an area of 199 hectares with paddy fields of 175 hectares (188 blocks).
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