Temburong - The Department of Agriculture and Agrifood's get-together session with farmers and breeders concluded in the Temburong District at Kg Rataie Community Hall and was attended by nearly 400 agriculturists.

Present at the session were Acting Senior Special Duties Officer Hj Hamdan along with Assistant Directors of Agriculture, senior officers as well as officers and staff from the Department of Agriculture and Agrifood.

The get-together session began with a presentation on the achievements of the agriculture and agrifood industry followed by a question-and-answer session.

The event served to share information on the status of the nation's agricultural development covering every sector in the agricultural industry as well as programmes that are being carried out and will be implemented.

Gross production of agriculture and agrifood for the Temburong District last year has shown an encouraging rise where it has increased to $2.66 million according to market value compared to the $2.11 million the previous year, marking an increase of 26.07 per cent or $0.55 million.

The main contributor of the rise is the rice industry, which has successfully contributed $0.92 million followed by the fruits industry with $0.61 million and chicken livestock with $0.53 million.

Meanwhile, other industries such as vegetables contributed $0.35 million, agrifood crops-based products $0.15 million, buffalo and cow meat $0.6 million and varieties of crops $0.03 million.

To date, there a total of 814 registered entrepreneurs in the agriculture and agrifood field in the district, which is 15.8 per cent of the overall total of agriculturists here where the highest number of entrepreneurs is in the crops sector with 746 people or 91.7 per cent of the overall total of entrepreneurs in the district.

It is hoped that with activities such as this, farmers and breeders in the district will work harder and always practise competitive spirit in developing the agriculture and agrifood industry in the country to realise the theme for this year's Farmer and Fisherman's Day 'Makanan Terjana, Negara Selamat'.

--Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin