Economic diversification in Brunei Darussalem: the case of wet rice agriculture

Brunei Darussalam’s renewed efforts at wet rice cultivation is partly a response to the 2007/2008 global food crisis, and mark its attempt at both economic diversification and food security. This study, aims to assess the effectiveness of the Wasan Scheme in contributing to the economic diversification and food security goals of the government of Brunei. Research was conducted at the Wasan Scheme located at the Mulaut Plain and compared two groups of farmers in the Wasan Scheme namely (a) retired army personnel and (b) local community and how these groups contribute to enhance the productivity of the wet rice agriculture projects. The study employed a mixed-methods approach. Using a sample of 52 farmers, as well as officials of the Department of Agriculture and Agrifood, the study generated quantitative and qualitative data which will be useful for the planning of future wet rice growing programmes. For the qualitative analysis, semi-structured interviews, observation and archival methods were carried out to gather data from rice farmers in the period between May 2010 and January 2011. For the quantitative phase, survey questionnaires of rice farmers and secondary data sources from various government policy documents were utilised. The results showed that farm size, number of workers, variable cost and years of experience affect the productivity of farmers. The study also finds that the problems, which work against the government’s goal of diversification through agriculture, are poor irrigation and drainage system; inadequate knowledge and skills of farm management; lack of knowledge of diseases and pests control; and, the government’s late payments for agricultural products/yield. Furthermore, problems in policy or the political economy of the state also point to Brunei’s rentier state that hinders economic diversification and food security. Far-reaching implications of my findings will, therefore, be addressed too