The Bruneian

AgroBIZ project Sembada 188 rice now available for purchase

- Wardi Wasil BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN

The Sembada 188 rice cultivated by the first cohort of the LiveWIRE AgroBIZ project is now available for the public and can be purchased at the Institute of Brunei Technical Education’s (IBTE), Business Campus in Gadong and Sultan Bolkiah Campus in Seria.

The milestone was commemorat­ed with a launch event that was held at the Youth Enterprise Services (YES) Centre of the IBTE Business Campus.

According to Brunei Shell Petroleum (BSP) InCountry Value Manager and Chairman of LiveWIRE Brunei Hjh Rosita Hj Hassan, the Sembada 188 rice was cultivated and harvested by 10 students of IBTE’s Agro-technology Campus.

The product represents the AgroBIZ project’s first harvest which averaged at seven metric tonnes per hectare last February.

The highest recorded output however occurred during the first day of the harvest with 8.3 metric tonnes per hectare.

“The rice that has been produced is of high quality and cultivated without the use of chemical pesticides. In fact, we have been practicing sustainabl­e farming by utilizing natural and organic materials,” she said in her speech.

“Our Commitment to People and Planet is not just a tagline for our Sembada 188 rice product but it is an important principle that is imbued in all aspects of our agricultur­al practices,” she continued.

“This is because the AgroBIZ project prioritise­s not only the future of young local farmers but also the preservati­on of the environmen­t,” she added.

Hjh Rosita then explained that BSP had spent more than $3 million which is used to provide a complete and efficient ecosystem for the cultivatio­n of paddy and subsequent­ly the sale of rice, by providing rice

milling as well as rice packing facilities.

She went on to express hope that this collaborat­ive project between BSP through LiveWIRE Brunei and the government can be further developed, as a means to encourage progress in the use of agrotechno­logy within the sultanate.

Present to officiate the launch was Permanent Secretary (Higher Education) at the Ministry of Education Dr Hj Azman Ahmad who also witnessed the AgroBIZ Launch video which was followed by Hjh Rosita presenting the Sembada 188 rice to IBTE Chief Executive Officer, Dr Hj Zamri Hj Sabli.

The AgroBIZ Sembada 188 is priced at $3.60 per kilogram and is available in three sizes; 5kg, 2kg and 0.5kg.

Those interested can purchase the Sembada 188 rice at both YES Centres of IBTE Business Campus in Gadong and the Sultan Bolkiah Campus in Seria.

 ??  ??
 ??  ?? MOE Permanent Secretary (Higher Education), Dr Hj Azman Ahmad officiatin­g the launch oaf the AgroBIZ Sembada 188 rice at IBTE Business Campus’ YES Centre. Images: Wardi Wasil
MOE Permanent Secretary (Higher Education), Dr Hj Azman Ahmad officiatin­g the launch oaf the AgroBIZ Sembada 188 rice at IBTE Business Campus’ YES Centre. Images: Wardi Wasil
 ??  ??
 ??  ??

Newspapers in English

Newspapers from Brunei