He asserted that it will also help to strengthen the sub-district's agricultural industry in terms of the production of fruits.

He added that residents will be able to profit through small businesses that is via the sale of local fresh fruits that in return help to boost the community's economy.

This is possible through the support of the Mukim Lamunin Village Consultative Council, remarked the District Officer during the launch of the Mukim Lamunin fruits festival yesterday at the Gong Tiga Community Hall in Tutong.

Hj Idris, in his speech also said that residents of Mukim Lamunin can use the various fruit exhibitions organised by the consultative council as a "platform" to promote their fruit businesses to the public.

He stated that according to last year's statistics of Brunei's fruits requirement, 80.5 per cent or 14, 359 metric tonnes of them were imported at a cost of $25.88 million, while the remaining were from local production (19.5 per cent) at 3, 484.6 metric tonnes, costing $5.69 million.

Referring to the total amount of local fruits produced by the Mukim Lamunin rural area agricultural development farms, he noted that efforts by the residents of Tutong District alone has produced a total of 723.73 metric tonnes of fruits, while 99.64 metric tonnes (l3.77 per cent) were taken from these (Mukim Lamunin) farms.

Mukim Lamunin Village Consultative Council Chairman, Major (Rtd) Hj Tahamid Hj Kula said a total of 31 fruit stalls from four villages in Mukim Lamunin were set up for patrons and will operate from morning till late afternoon.

He added that registration was open to the public by the council a month earlier for them to set up their booths at the fruit carnival that is being held until October 12.

Speaking to The Brunei Times, Hjh Jalemah Hj Sabtu said that she has received a fair amount of income through selling durian and rambutan on the opening day of the fruit carnival.

"This is the chance for me to profit from my annual harvest of fresh fruits. Durians are a hit among the people in Kampung Lamunin, especially when most of the fruits grown are ripe during this time of the year," added the senior citizen from Kampung Lamunin.

Another vendor, Surinah Hj Bakar from Kampung Buk it Sulang who manages several fruit farms in her village said that she had profited in the hundreds from durian sales which was sold at a price of $10 per bunch.

According to Surinah who has been in the fruit business for several years now, Durian Otak Udang Galah and Marian Kahwin were among the favorites of fresh fruits that are sold at the fruit carnival. -- Courtesy of The Brunei Times

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