Study To Look Into New Agricultural & Agribusiness Incentive Programmes
By James Kon

Bandar Seri Begawan - As part of a continued effort to develop the agricultural sector in the Sultanate, His Majesty's Government through the Department of Agriculture, Ministry of Industry and Primary Resources has initiated a number of projects.

Yesterday morning marked the start of one of the projects called "New Agricultural and Agribusiness Incentive Programmes for Brunei Darussalam", where a signing ceremony was held at the Department of Agriculture.

The Department of Agriculture has selected Agrodev Canada Inc, which will be collaborating with Sacammas Sdn Bhd, to work on the project.

The project was designed as a follow-up to the study conducted by Commonwealth Fund for Technical Cooperation (CFTC) in 2003.

Brunei was a founding member of the WTO and under its Agreement on Agriculture, WTO restricts the types and extent of domestic support programmes. The WTO members are currently negotiating changes to the Agreement on Agriculture, under the Doha Development Agenda, which is expected to further reduce the acceptable level of support and protection for the agricultural sector.

Brunei is also a signatory to the AFTA, which has reduced all tariffs on international Asean trade to a very low level.

The proposed study would evaluate the effectives, efficiency and suitability of the current Agricultural Incentives Programme in Brunei, in achieving the objectives of the Government of His Majesty, particularly the objectives of the Department of Agriculture's National Development Plan.

All aspects of the delivery system for the incentives programme of the Department of Agriculture will also be reviewed along with an evaluation of the effectiveness of the development of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs).

New directions for the incentives programme would be identified, developed and evaluated. The new directions would look into cost approach with the private sector as an option.

With the completion of the project, the Department of Agriculture hopes to come up with new incentive programmes that would enhance the development of agriculture and agribusiness.

On hand to witness the signing ceremony was the guest of honour, Pg Hjh Mariana binti PDNLDR Pg Hj Abdul Momin, the Acting Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Industry and Primary Resources.

Signing on behalf for the Department of Agriculture was Acting Director Hjh Normah Suria binti PJDSMDSU Dr Awang Hj Mohd Jamil Al-Sufri, while representing Agrodev Canada Inc was Mr Neal Carter, the project manager.

Also attending the ceremony were Hj Mohd Sufri bin Abdullah, the assistant director of agriculture and Mr Tun Boon Chiam, the director of Sacammas Sdn Bhd. -- Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin

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