Bad Weather Blamed For Lesser Vegetable Production
By Azlan Othman

Bandar Seri Begawan - Bad weather such as flash floods that hit low lying areas, diseases, unfertile land and inability of most farmers to use protection system, an inexperienced workforce who worked temporarily and lack of interest in using technology were some factors for the decline in the production of vegetables last year.

This was revealed by the Vegetable Development Unit of Crops Development Division of the Agriculture Department in a briefing session with village leaders.

Vegetable entrepreneurs reduced the planting of vegetables and diverted to planting sweet corns and bananas. Foreign fanners who manage their employer's farm opted planting more 'leafy vegetables' (Sayur Daun), resulting in the decline in the production of fruit vegetable (Sayur Buah), the prices of which also declined last year.

The local production of vegetables increased last year to 9,792.5 mt compared to 9,518 mt. Imports also increased to 7,125.8 mt in 2007 from 6,581 mt in 2006.

The country's vegetable need last year was 16,918.3 mt out of which 69 per cent was tropical vegetables and the remaining 31 per cent was temperate vegetables. Some 42.1% of the vegetables were imported last year. Brunei's per capita consumption of vegetables stood at 43.4 kilos.

The factors that led to increased production included the opening of more areas last year, 662 hectares compared to only 580 hectares in 2006. Majority of the areas are in the Brunei/Muara District. The number of farmers increased from 418 in 2006 to 448 in 2007, with almost half in the Brunei/Muara District.

Good agricultural practice and continuous manure incentives as well as the market demand also led to increase in production.

The top 15 local and imported vegetables were Timun, Kacang Panjang, Sawi Hijau/Manis, Kangkong, Bayam, Sawi Putih, Terong, Petola, Peria, Kacang Bindir, Labu Air, Labu Merah, Sawi Taiwan, Sawi Pahit/Kai Choi and Cangkuk, M anis.

The top 15 imported tropical vegetables were Kacang Buncis, Lada Thailand, Labu Kuning, Lobak Putih, Terong, Baby Kailan, Lada Merah, Jagung Muda, Kulat, Sawi Manis/ Hijau, Kailan, Sawi Putih, Pakis, Timun Dun and Daun Bawang. -- Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin

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