Kuala Belait - This year's Agriculture and Agri-Food Fair in Belait District will focus towards promoting paddy plantation activities and rice production in the district in line with the nation's efforts to boost its food security.

The Head of Belait's Agriculture Department, Awg Latif bin Hj Ahmad, said that the annual event to mark His Majesty the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam's royal birthday celebrations will involve small and medium entrepreneurs as the main generator towards increasing and developing the nation's economy, particularly in terms of food security.

In the second meeting with agriculture officers and non-government organisations involved in organising the event at the department's Kuala Belait office yesterday morning, Awg Latif stated that the event will assist SMEs towards highlighting developments in the field of agriculture, handicraft and promote investment and business opportunities in the agriculture sector, particularly agri-business.

Entrepreneurs registered with the Department of Agriculture are urged to join the Agriculture and Agri-Food fair, which is set to take place from July 28 until August 2 at the Tudong Saji parking lot.

Awg Latif further mentioned that the fair this year will add another category entitled 'Mainstream Rice Production' where entrepreneurs will be able to showcase raditional food produced from rice such as 'Kelupis', `Wajid', 'Ketupat', Pulut Panggang' and many others.

Other categories to be highlighted at this year's Agriculture Fair include agriculture food resources and products; fast food and local stalls; landscape and plantation products and traditional handicrafts.

Side events to enliven the one-week Agriculture Fair include briefings on agricultural technology such as the proper use of fertilizers, creating compost fertilizers; elimination of plantation pests and diseases and many others.

Awg Latif expressed his hope that the fair would provide encouragement to entrepreneurs and communities involved in agriculture with a keen interest in further developing and commercially boosting their resources.

Entry forms to take part in the Agriculture and Agri-Food Fair in the district can be obtained at the Department of Agriculture Office in Kuala Belait and the Sungai Liang Agriculture station.

The fair will promote locally made products in the district in an effort to develop SMEs and enable them to showcase their products to wholesalers and buyers. -- Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin

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