BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN, March 7 (Xinhua) -- Aiming to better achieve self-sufficiency of rice, Brunei has targeted to increase paddy production from 2,000 tonnes in 2015 to 7,700 tonnes by 2020.
"We will achieve self-sufficiency in rice production from 6 percent in 2015 to 20 percent by 2020," Haji Ali, Brunei's Minister of Primary Resources and Tourism, was quoted as saying by local daily the Borneo Bulletin on Wednesday.
In his speech at the 14th Legislative Council (LegCo) meeting, the minister said the new target was set to respond to Brunei's Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah's concern on domestic food security.
The minister said that the new target is going to be achieved with the help of introduction of a high-yielding hybrid rice strain.
Last September the minister said hybrid paddy technology can have a significant impact on rice production, generate more revenue for farmers and ensure sustainability of the country's rice industry.
Brunei is expected to introduce China's hybrid paddy varieties that can produce at least 12 tonnes per hectare in irrigated areas.
