Bandar Seri Begawan - The Minister of Industry and Primary Resources, Pehin Orang Kaya Seri Utama Dato Seri Setia Awang Hj Yahya bin Begawan Mudim Dato Paduka Haji Bakar and fellow delegates, recently conducted working visits to Kampong Bebuloh and Wasan Vocational School.

The visits were part of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between Negara Brunei Darussalam and the PhilRice Department of Agriculture, Philippines, to further strengthen, in particular, the fields of agriculture and farming. Upon arrival at the Bebuloh Hall, the delegation was briefed on the PadiCheck System for Brunei, which is a dynamic extension approach that integrates and balances key technology and management recommendations with the farmers' group learning to sustain improvement in productivity, profitability and environment safety.

Participants have established, maintained and monitored 'Participatory Trials' on different key checks such as the importance of good quality in seed and land preparation.

Also in attendance were the Deputy Minister of Industry and Primary Resources, Dato Paduka Hj Hamdillah bin Hj Abdul Wahab, Deputy Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Industry and Primary Resources Pengiran Hajah Mariana binti PDNLDR Pengiran Haji Abdul Momin, Director of Agriculture and Agrifood Hajah Normah Suria Hayati binti PJDSM DSU (Dr) Haji Mohd Jamil Al-Sufri and senior officials from the Department of Agriculture and Agrifood.

The government has made various efforts to encourage rice production and increase the yield per acre. These efforts include a one-month training programme for agricultural extension workers to enhance their knowledge, skills, and performance in rice production as well as technology promotion. It also serves to keep them updated on the principles and practices of the PadiCheck System
They are managed and facilitated by the Farmers Field Schools at three different fields at Kampong Bebuloh,Wasan and Mukim Pengkalan Batu.

"It is hoped that the most recent efforts to improve Brunei's self-sufficiency in rice will help the country realise its goals of achieving a 20 per cent self-sufficiency by 2010 and 60 per cent by 2015," said Mr Rolando. -- Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin

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