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.

    22/140 (page 16)
    The following table shows the average yield in gantangs of padi for the season 1951/52 as compared with the season 1950/51: — Season Wet Padi Acreage Approx. Yield in Gantangs Dry Padi Acreage Approx. Yield in Gantangs Grand Acreage Total Est. Yield in Gantangs 1950—51 5,471 1,789,017 3,104 744,960 8,575 2,533,977 1951—52 Increase or 4,982 1,101,760 3,814 457,365 8,052 1,559,125 Decrease -489 -687,257 + 710 -287,595 -523 -974,852 The decrease in the area under cultivation was due partly to the abandon¬ ment of a few small scattered areas which were unsuitable for padi cultiva¬ tion, but chiefly due to the fact that the large rehabilitation programmes of the Government and Oil Company gave employment to the indigenous people to the detriment of food production. The decrease in yield for both wet and dry rice was due to exceptionally heavy rains during the harvesting period and to extensive damage by birds. Padi (Season 1952/53) : The area planted this season is estimated at 5,032 acres under wet padi and 3,963 acres under dry padi, an increase of 50 and 149 acres res¬ pectively as compared with last season. In most districts clearing of jungle connected with the dry padi crops was started in June and continued till late August when planting was commenced and in the majority of cases com¬ pleted by September. Weather conditions in the early stages were favourable and germination of the grain good. Preparation of wet padi areas was general throughout September and during this month nurseries were sown. With the exception of deep water courses where operations were more advanced, transplanting was done in early October. The crop had an excellent start; weather conditions were ideal until early December when there was a very heavy rain which resulted in serious flooding in all districts, the drainage system being temporarily inadequate. Many areas of newly transplanted padi were submerged, or almost so, for periods up to a week, and a few acre were completely des¬ troyed. Sago: Ihe estimated area under sago at the end of 1952 was 2,256 acres. I his shows an increase of 67 acres as compared with the previous year. The total of raw sago exported this year was 2,355 piculs; there was no export of dry flour. The prices of both products remained unchanged throughout the year. Ihe standard of the raw sago manufactured by the small holder cannot be said to have improved to any appreciable extent.