BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN, Apr 14 (NNN-ANN) – Brunei has recorded nearly 50 percent increase in agricultural and fisheries production, from 525 million Brunei dollars (391.76 million U.S. dollars) in 2017, to 742 million Brunei dollars (551.58 million U.S. dollars) in 2024.
The Ministry of Industry and Primary Resources, yesterday, said that, in an effort to enhance Brunei’s food security and for future direction in the food industry, the ministry has identified six main commodities, notably rice, poultry, chicken eggs, beef, vegetables and fish.
Over the past three years, the country has also achieved eight percent self-sufficiency for rice production.
Minister of Industry and Primary Resources, Haji Abdul Manaf Metussin, at the recent legislative council said, eggs and chicken meat production had surpassed local demand at 103 percent and 100 percent, respectively.
However, beef and buffalo meat remain low at approximately 2.3 percent. Tropical vegetables and fish production are at 72 percent and 74 percent, respectively.
The ministry, farmers and entrepreneurs are committed to intensifying efforts, to achieve self-sufficiency in these commodities, in order to stabilise the price and to reduce dependency on imports.
The ministry’s Department of Agriculture and Agrifood is implementing three main initiatives, to boost rice production, namely through encouraging high-yield hybrid rice, carrying out research and development on new varieties, and enhancing soil fertility for rice production.– NNN-ANN
