Bandar Seri Begawan - The Government of His Majesty the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam yesterday signed the Memorandum of Agreement for the Hybrid Rice Development Cooperation Project with Sunland Agri-Tech Sdn Bhd, marking a major step towards achieving the target of 60-per-cent national self-suffiency in rice production in three years.

Yesterday's signing ceremony was officiated by the Minister of Industry and Primary Resources, Pehin Orang Kaya Seri Utama Dato Seri Setia Awg Hj Yahya bin Begawan Mudim Dato Paduka Hj Bakar. The ceremony took place at the Setia Pahlawan Hall of the Ministry of Industry and Primary Resources (MIPR) building.

Signing on behalf of His Majesty's Government was the Acting Director of Agriculture and Agrifood, Dyg Hjh Aidah Hj Mohd Hanifah while Sunland Agri-Tech Sdn Bhd was represented by Project Manager David Chen.

The witnessing signatories were Dyg Fuziah Hj Hamdan, Assistant Director of Agriculture and Agrifood, and Sunland Agri-Tech Sdn Bhd Business Partner Mr Earng Hong.

Among those in attendance were the High Commissioner of the Republic of Singapore to Brunei Darussalam, Mr Joseph Koh; Permanent Secretary at the Ministry of Industry and Primary Resources, Hjh Normah Suria Hayati binti PJDSMDSU (Dr) Hj Awg Mohd Jamil Al-Sufri; and the Deputy Permanent Secretary (Industry and Entrepreneurship Development) at the ministry Awg Mohd Riza Dato Paduka Hj Mohd Yunos.

Bandar Seri Begawan - The word 'Titih' signifies the strong spirit and self-esteem of the Bruneian community that works hard when it focuses on something and this word has been selected as the official name for Brunei's first hybrid rice.

The launching of the new name for the first hybrid rice took place yesterday at the Ministry of Industry and Primary Resources (MIPR) and was officiated by the minister, Pehin Orang Kaya Seri Utama Dato Seri Setia Awg Hj Yahya bin Begawan Mudim Dato Paduka Hj Bakar.

Present at the launching were Singapore High Commissioner to Brunei Darussalam Joseph Koh; Permanent Secretary at the MIPR Hjh Normah Suria Hayati PJDSMDSU (Dr) Hj Awg Mohd Jamil Al-Sufri and Deputy Permanent Secretary (Industry and Entrepreneurship Development) Awg Mohd Riza Dato Paduka Hj Mohd Yunus.

The minister in his speech said the hybrid rice project is seen as a new technology that has been introduced in the country's rice plantation and is one of the ministry's strategies through the Department of Agriculture and Agrifood to increase the'nation's rice production.

Studies on the hybrid rice began in 2009 and were focussed more on identifying varieties suitable for consumption in the country, which included the suitability of the variety and its adaptability in terms of climate and weather, its endurance against diseases as well as consumers' acceptance of its taste.

After identifying the suitable hybrid rice variety to be planted here, the ministry has planned to have it planted on a large scale as an alternative to other types of rice including Laila and traditional rice.

Titih's maturity period is 115 days.