Annual report on Brunei / Colonial Office.

  • Great Britain. Colonial Office.
Date:
[1952]
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Annual report on Brunei / Colonial Office. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    21/140 (page 15)
    PRODUCTION. (a) Agriculture and Animal Husbandry. CROP REPORTS: Rubber: The area under rubber at the end of 1952 was 30,194 acres as com¬ pared with 28,718 acres at the end of the previous year. This increase of 1,476 acres was almost entirely new planting, very little replanting, unfor¬ tunately, being done this year. During the early part of the year rubber prices were in the neigh¬ bourhood of $150/- per picul for smoked sheet. There was a progressive fall in prices during the second half of the year. The total export of smoked rubber sheet for the year was 1,780 tons as compared with 2,405 tons the previous year. The majority of small holdings were maintained in a satisfactory con¬ dition, having regard to the economic position of the small holder. Disease: Mouldy rot (Ceratostomella fimbriata) continued to be in evidence in many parts of the State particularly during the wetter periods of the year. A fair measure of control has been attained in certain areas as a result of frequent paintings of the tapping panels with one or other of the approved fungicides, but many owners have been slow to co-operate with the Agricul¬ tural Department in taking the necessary measures for control. Padi (Season 1951/52): A summary of the District returns of estimated acreage and yields is given in the table below: — Wet Dry Total District Acres Gantangs Acres Gantangs Acres Gantangs Brunei & Muara 2,763 853,249 1,710 303,104 4,473 1,156,353 Temburong 245 47,285 537 85,920 782 133,205 Tutong 1,454 85,786 1,265 34,155 2,719 119,941 Belait 520 115,440 302 43,186 822 158,626 Total: 4,982 1,101,760 3,814 466,365 8,796 1,568,125