(Borneo Bulletin Bandar Seri Begawan, 27th) Local rice farmers are undergoing capacity building training in planting, hybrid rice seed production, and hybrid rice management.
This project aims to sustain the successful implementation of hybrid rice technology in Brunei.
Hajah Tutiaty, Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Primary Resources and Tourism, officiated the launch of the cooperative training program between Brunei and China.
The Department of Agriculture and Agrifood, in collaboration with Yuan Longping High-Tech Agriculture Co., Ltd., organized this training with the support of the Ministry of Commerce of China.
She acknowledged the collaboration with Yuan Longping High-Tech Agriculture.
She stated that the training program aims to enable Brunei's agricultural professionals and farmers to master advanced technologies in hybrid rice seed production and integrated rice management.
By applying these technologies, participants are expected to contribute to increasing rice yields and establishing a more sustainable and resilient rice production system, while also enhancing national food security, especially in the face of future uncertainties such as climate change.
She highly appreciated the contributions of Yuan Longping High-Tech to Brunei's agricultural innovation and rice production self-sufficiency.
This cooperation began in 2017, with training courses held in China and Brunei, after which both sides continued to share germplasm resources to identify rice varieties suitable for Brunei's environment.
She expressed gratitude to the Hunan Hybrid Rice Research Centre and Hunan Agricultural University for sending experts to Brunei for training and highlighted the positive impact of hybrid rice technology on Brunei's rice self-sufficiency rate, which increased from 4% to 8%.
She emphasized that the training is not only about acquiring new technologies but also about shaping the future of Brunei's agriculture. She stated that the knowledge and skills gained by participants will help strengthen food security.
Xiao Jianguo, the Chinese Ambassador to Brunei, emphasized the strong relations between China and Brunei. The two countries are close neighbors across the sea, trusted friends, and partners in common development, serving as a model of equal and mutually beneficial development between countries of different sizes.
Xiao Jianguo recalled the meeting between Chinese President Xi Jinping and Sultan of Brunei in San Francisco in November 2023, where both leaders emphasized the importance of expanding cooperation in food security, agriculture, fisheries, and other fields.
Additionally, Chinese Vice President Han Zheng recently visited Muara Port and toured the rice granary, further emphasizing the importance of agricultural cooperation.
The Chinese Ambassador stressed that under the strategic guidance of the two countries' leaders, China and Brunei are strengthening the alignment of the Belt and Road Initiative with Brunei's Vision 2035.
This cooperation has led to fruitful collaboration in the field of agriculture between the two countries, including the successful donation of 100 kilograms of high-yield hybrid rice seeds and joint rice variety trials.
He reiterated China's commitment to working with Brunei to implement the consensus reached by the two countries' leaders and to explore rice development models and technologies suitable for Brunei's conditions.
The training began on October 23rd and will last for 45 days, conducted by seven experts from Yuan Longping High-Tech Agriculture Co., Ltd.
A total of 35 participants attended the training, including representatives from the Department of Agriculture and Agrifood, Universiti Brunei Darussalam, Brunei Polytechnic, the Agriculture Technology Campus of the Technical Education Institute, and local rice farmers.