STRONG public support for locally-produced rice can be expected as long as it is of high quality and priced appropriately.

"I will definitely buy and eat locally-produced rice, especially if it is of good quality and decently priced," said a man in his mid-50s who requested to be known only as Haji.

The grandfather of three living in Jalan Muara said that he was no longer in charge of buying rice for the family, so he was not sure where the rice he eats originates from.

"My daughter-in-law is in charge of preparing our meals, so she is the one who does the groceries shopping, but I don't think the rice we eat is locally grown."

He recalled trying to switch to locally-grown rice because they heard that it was not processed as much as imported rice and is therefore better for the digestive system, "but the younger children did not like it," said Haji.

He added that his daughter-in-law also complained that locally-grown rice were sold at a higher price than imported rice.

A mother of two who opted for anonymity also spoke of her support in rice grown by local farmers.

"We are already used to buying fragrant rice from Thailand but would definitely love to give locally-grown rice a try," said the housewife.

"We have never bought local rice before because the imported ones are so easily available at such low prices," she said.

She anticipated strong support from the Sultanate's population in response to the government's incentives of increasing local rice production, especially if it could contribute to the economic stability of the country.

"I think it will be well-received. The quality and price has to be comparable with the imports though."

A previous report stated that Brunei is hoping to produce 60 per cent of the Sultanate's rice needs, equivalent to 18,000 metric tonnes, by 2015. Brunei is currently producing only 3.15 per cent in 2007.

In an interview, Hjh Normah Suria Hayati PJDSM Dato Seri Utama Dr Hj Mohd Jamil Al-Sufri, the acting director of Agriculture Department, said that the main objective of increasing this local production was to provide food security for the nation.

"This is to ensure that rice will be constantly available to the Brunei population, we never know when the imported supply might stop," said Hjh Normah, adding that the boost in the local farming industry could also help open up job vacancies and opportunities for the public.

"Both local and imported rice should be priced at $1.20 per kilo. It is only more expensive if the consumers buy directly from the farmers," she said.

The acting director went on to explain how the government purchases paddy from the farmers at $1.60 per kilo. This paddy is then processed up to the point where only 60 to 65 per cent of it is left.

This processed rice is then distributed and sold to the public at $1.20 per kilo.

"The government subsidises about half of the price you pay for the rice," added Hjh Normah.

According to 2007 statistics, the total of the rice, a staple in food in Brunei, is 31,242 metric tonnes, worth an estimated $37.05 million.

Some 29,252 metric tonnes (96.7 per cent) or $34.19 million worth of rice consumed in Brunei for personal use is imported.

The total usage per capita is estimated at 80.1kg each person each year.

In Courtesy of The Brunei Times