THE CALL to revive the rubber and sugarcane sectors with fresh initiatives was quashed by Brunei’s Ministry of Industry and Primary Resources.
Minister YB Pehin Orang Kaya Seri Utama Dato Seri Setia Awang Haji Yahya bin Begawan Mudim Dato Paduka Haji Bakar reasoned during the Legislative Council (LegCo) meeting held March that developing the rubber and sugarcane plantations will adversely affect the environment.
The LegCo representative suggested that the ministry carry out short-term and long-term programmes to revive and develop the rubber plantation industry.
The local rubber industry used to be a main source of income for Brunei before and during the Japanese occupation. Sources said that rubber would be harvested twice a day.
YB Orang Kaya Jaya Putera Dato Paduka Awang Haji Muhammad Taha bin Abd Rauf was batting for a review of the policy on rubber plantation, but the Minister said that the development of rubber plantations entail environment risks. Rubber crops are also prone to diseases, he said, citing that rubber plantations in Malaysia had been exposed to a root disease, which could spread to other valuable crops.
He also explained that synthetic rubber permeating the market has already posed fierce competition wuth natural rubber in the market, dropping the latter’s value.
Moreover, he emphasised that Brunei has limited land for plantation and that the Ministry would prioritise on the development of main crops such as rice, fruits and vegetables, adding that it has not supported any initiative for the cultivation of rubber and sugar cane to prevent risks they could pose to the environment.