62
PRIMARY PRODUCTION
in differing degrees of sub-grade character. The arable land and fish ponds already exploited comprise only 13.2 per cent of the total area and the expanding urban areas (the remaining 7.7 per cent) tend to encroach more directly on arable rather than on marginal land. It is unavoidable that fields will be lost to agriculture, or at least that agriculture in some areas will be confined to market gardens. This trend is, however, being offset by more intensive production and by development of marginal land.
The afforestation policy is to replace the woodlands which were largely stripped during the war, not only to safeguard water catch- ments and ensure soil conservation, but also to take advantage of the opportunities it affords to make best use of the land. There are many limiting factors to the extension of arable land, but they can be overcome in some areas and much more attention is now paid to the principles of multiple land use in order to exploit under- developed areas. The establishment of pure forests tends to be restricted to areas incapable of more intensive development.
There has been a continuing study of land use by the Agriculture and Fisheries Department since a survey in 1953. Much work has also been done by independent researchers. The general picture of land use today is indicated by the following table:
area
Remarks
Includes roads and railways.
Approximate
Class
(square miles)
Percentage of whole
(i) Built-up (urban areas)
30.9
7.7
(ii) Steep country
111.0
28.0
Rocky, precipitous hill- sides incapable of plant
establishment.
(iii) Woodlands
23.2
5.8
Natural and established woodlands.
(iv) Grass and scrub lands
155.4
39.0
Natural grass and scrub.
(v) Eroded lands...
20.0
5.0
Stripped of cover. Granite
country. Capable of re- generation.
(vi) Swamp and mangrove
lands
5.2
1.3
Capable of reclamation.
(vii) Fish Ponds
2.3
0.6
Fresh and brackish water fish farming.
(viii) Arable
50.3
12.6
Includes
orchards and
+
market gardens.