The sound of rice milling machinery echoes at Wasan this morning โ louder, more certain than ever. Wasan Milling Company, Brunei's main rice processing center, has now doubled its milling capacity to 20,000 metric tons per year. It is not just a number jump. It is a new pulse for the country's efforts to achieve the national target of 20 percent rice self-sufficiency by 2027.
His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu'izzaddin Waddaulah graced the inauguration of the upgraded facility during a ceremony at Wasan, Brunei-Muara District. In his speech, the agricultural sector was emphasized as a pillar of the economy, not just value addition โ but the foundation of food sovereignty. The Sultan also called for continuous innovation in local rice production.
From 9,000 to 20,000 Tons: A Significant Leap
Before the upgrade, Wasan Milling Company's capacity was limited to 9,000 metric tons of rice per year. Now, with significant investment in modern screening technology, high-efficiency drying systems, and the latest automation machinery, the capacity has more than doubled. The result: local rice is processed faster, crop losses are reduced, and rice quality consistently improves.
These numbers reflect reality: in 2024, Brunei's rice self-sufficiency rate was only 8 percent. The 20 percent target is still far off โ but not impossible. This capacity leap will be fully effective when new paddy fields in Mukim Labu, Lumapatan, and other areas begin to yield stable harvests.
Behind the Machines: Sensors, Digital Control & Controlled Drying
What makes this factory different? Behind the concrete walls lies an automated processing system that uses sensors and digital control. Each grain of rice goes through cleaning, husking, polishing, and grading โ all under strict control. This system not only increases output, but also reduces reliance on foreign labor. New opportunities open up for local youth skilled in agro-food technology.
The facility is also equipped with a controlled heat drying system. It ensures the moisture content of rice is at the optimal level โ preventing mold, avoiding damage during storage. For farmers, this means harvest losses no longer occur due to unpredictable weather. Wasan now functions as a more efficient rice processing, collection, and post-harvest management center.
Farmers Receive Cash Faster, Prices More Stable
This move gives a fresh breath to farmers across the country. With greater capacity, farmers no longer have to wait months to process their rice. The time between harvesting and marketing rice is shortened โ cash flow becomes smoother.
Local rice purchase prices are also expected to be more stable. Wasan Milling Company can now absorb larger supplies, reducing market fluctuations caused by sudden surpluses or shortages.
In his speech, the Minister of Primary Resources and Tourism emphasized the government's commitment to continue providing incentives to farmers โ including fertilizer subsidies, quality seeds, and technical advice. The combination of new infrastructure and direct support is expected to significantly increase rice field productivity.
Food Security Is Not Just Rhetoric
The doubling of Wasan Milling Company's capacity is not an isolated project. It is part of a national strategy to strengthen food security โ a matter of sovereignty in an increasingly uncertain world. Global supply chain disruptions, climate change, and rising food prices make the ability to produce rice independently no longer a choice, but a necessity.
Brunei still imports more than 90 percent of its rice needs โ mostly from Thailand and Vietnam. Wasan Milling Company is now one of the main channels to reduce this dependence.
The Sultan's speech emphasized: agriculture is not just a source of food. It is an economic opportunity, a space for innovation, and a field for human development. Wasan Milling Company โ with its new capacity โ is a physical proof that this vision is moving from discourse to reality.
Idle Land, Labor Shortage & High Costs: Real Challenges
However, the large factory capacity means nothing if the rice supply is insufficient. Brunei still faces three major challenges: idle land, a shortage of local labor in agriculture, and high production costs.
Wasan Milling Company may be able to process 20,000 tons per year โ but if the fields do not produce enough rice, this capacity will remain idle.
The government is aware of this. Intensive training programs for young farmers are being implemented. Irrigation infrastructure is being strengthened. Collaboration with the private sector is expanding to develop peat and marginal land. At Wasan itself, a paddy field expansion project is underway โ expected to add 500 hectares of rice cultivation within three years.
A Historic Moment, Not the End of the Journey
The inauguration of Wasan Milling Company by His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu'izzaddin Waddaulah is a historic moment โ not because it solves everything, but because it marks an irrefutable commitment.
This more than double capacity increase is not just an infrastructure improvement. It is a signal that Brunei is serious about achieving its rice self-sufficiency goals.
Now, the responsibility shifts: to farmers who need to increase yields, development officers who need to accelerate farm transformation, and the private sector that needs to invest in the rice value chain. Brunei may still be far from full self-sufficiency โ but Wasan Milling Company has already opened the way. The next step is not to stop. But to move forward faster.