Mill and storage boost for paddy

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BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN: As Brunei Darussalam inches its way towards the year 2015 where the Ministry of Industry and Primary Resources (MIPR) aims to reach 60 per cent of self-sustaining paddy production, one of the critical main focuses over the next few years to realise this goal will be reflected in infrastructural improvements for paddy activities across the country, Borneo Bulletin reported.

In an interview on the sidelines of a ground-laying ceremony in Wasan for two new buildings for milling harvested paddy and storing the produce, Pehin Orang Kaya Seri Utama Dato Seri Setia Awang Haji Yahya bin Begawan Mudim Dato Paduka Haji Bakar emphasised that the road towards paddy success will not just include higher yields but ensuring that paddy operations is facilitated with the tools to ensure more Brunei-produced paddy in stores.

“We are working towards all the necessary things to make this happen and once all that is in place, we can do more,” explained the Minister of Industry and Primary Resources, elaborating that the quality of fields that have been allocated for the paddy harvesting will be among the main priorities.

Among the issues that are to be addressed, he added, will be sorting out solutions for paddy operators whose main grievance comes in the form of water and drainage issues.

The uphill task coupled with at least another three years and just over five per cent of locally-made paddy produced for the year 2012, attaining the 60 per cent target may look slim, said the minister.

However, he expressed that “we are hopeful” and that “we have not given up” especially with the on-going exploration and implementation of moves that is hoped to increase productivity.

“It is still too early to say,” he pointed, referring to whether the target will be met and, as testimony to the ministry’s commitment, there are no plans to readjust the target as, at present, the “most important” would be the facilities as well as human resource capacity building especially among farmers.

Since 2003, the production of hybrid paddy has steadily increased from 547 metric tonnes to an approximate 1,700 tonnes last year and with the recent addition of another land space in Kg Bebuloh totalling to 213 hectares expected to start operations either this year or next alongside two other newly opened sites in the Temburong District, Brunei is well poised to provide the people with this staple.

The construction of the new infrastructures meanwhile, is a project under the Department of Agriculture and Agrifood under the MIPR as a means to accommodate the growing number of harvests.

It was explained in a press statement issued by the ministry that construction of the paddy plant began on November 26 last year and is expected to be completed by the end of May, after which it will be able to accommodate a paddy processing machine with a capacity to process 3.5 metric tonnes of paddy an hour. It will replace the current machines that are only able to process one tonnes of paddy an hour.

The equipment, it was stated, was purchased from Satake Corporation in Japan for US$3,916,110 encompassing not just supply and installation but also training of staff’ who will attend courses for two weeks in Thailand and a further six months in the Sultanate once the machine has been put in place.

The other construction site, meanwhile, will see two store blocks once completed in July this year that will have the capacity to store 1,000 metric tonnes of paddy, equipped with systematic ventilation for temperature control, moisture and oxygen to preserve harvests and quality prior to processing.

Furthermore, “The building’s design prioritises safety against damage from animals such as mice and birds”.

At present, the department has a total of eight stores with “medium” capacity within the BruneiMuara District, one in the Temburong District and -another similar facility in the Belait District with an approximate capacity of 2,000 metric tonnes of paddy in total.