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WEDNESDAY, MAY 12, 1976
J
FIRSTLY, THROUGH ITS EXTENSION WORK, THE DEPARTMENT IS SEEKING TO PERSUADE THE VILLAGERS TO TAKE ON VEGETABLE CULTIVATION. HE TOLD THE COUNCIL THAT ALREADY OVER 12,000 ACRES, OR MORE THAN 40 PER CENT OF ALL AGRICULTURAL LAND, BOTH UTILISED AND UNUTILISED, WAS UNDER VEGETABLES AND THIS WOULD BE EXPECTED TO GROW TO AT LEAST 16,500 ACRES, OR 55 PER CENT OF THE TOTAL, BY THE MID-80S. ·
SECONDLY, THE DEPARTMENT IS ENCOURAGING THE DEVELOPMENT OF MIXED ORCHARDS OF SHORT-TERM, MEDIUM-TERM AND LONG-TERM FRUIT TREES. THIS SORT OF DEVELOPMENT COULD HAVE A GOOD FUTURE IN HONG KONG CONDITIONS AND THE DEPARTMENT IS NOW RUNNING A NUMBER OF DEMONSTRATION ORCHARDS AND IS PRODUCING PLANTS FOR SALE.
THIRDLY, THE DEPARTMENT, IN CONSULTATION WITH THE NEW TERRITORIES ÅDMINISTRATION, IS EXAMINING WAYS OF OVERCOMING THE RELUCTANCE OF LAND OWNERS TO LEASE TO TENANTS TRAINED IN MARKET GARDENING.
FOURTHLY, THE INTENSITY OF CULTIVATION REQUIRED IN GROWING VEGETABLES CAN LEAD TO A SHORTAGE OF LABOUR. TO HELP TO OVERCOME THIS, THE DEPARTMENT IS DEMONSTRATING AND POPULARISING THE USE OF SMALL MECHANICAL CULTIVATORS. ABOUT 2,000 OF THESE MACHINES ARE NOW IN USE AND MANY HAVE BEEN FINANCED BY LOAN FUNDS ADMINISTERED BY THE DEPARTMENT.
LASTLY, THE DEPARTMENT IS ENCOURAGING THE USE OF MORE UP-TO-DATE SYSTEMS OF IRRIGATION AND THE USE OF HERBICIDES TO REPLACE HAND-WEEDING OF CROPS, BOTH OF WHICH CAN ALSO SAVE CONSIDERABLE LABOUR AND INCREASE PRODUCTIVITY.
MR. JONES ADDED THAT A FURTHER DEVELOPMENT WHICH THE DEPARTMENT WAS ENCOURAGING ON SUITABLE LAND WAS THE ESTABLISHMENT OF FISH PONDS,
HE POINTED OUT THAT OVER 3,500 ACRES WERE NOW UNDER FISH PONDS COMPARED WITH LESS THAN 500 ACRES IN 1956 AND THE TREND WAS CONTINUING.
HE ALSO REFERRED TO THE LAST TYPE OF FALLOW LAND IN RELATIVELY REMOTE AREAS NOT SERVED BY MOTORISED ROADS. THIS TYPE OF LAND COULD NOT BE USED FOR MARKET GARDEN CROPS BECAUSE OF THE DIFFICULTY OF TRANSPORT TO MARKETS.
THE GREATER PART OF THIS LAND, PREVIOUSLY USED FOR RICE GROWING IN THE OLD DAYS, HAD BEEN ABANDONED AND THE MORE ABLE-BODIED MOVED AWAY FROM THEIR VILLAGES TO SEEK OTHER EMPLOYMENT..
THE PREVIOUS INACCESSIBILITY OF THESE AREAS WAS, HOWEVER, BEING REDUCED AS THE GOVERNMENT DEVELOPED NEW ACCESS ROADS, MOSTLY IN ASSOCIATION WITH WATER DEVELOPMENTS, HE SAID.
THE HIGH ISLAND WATER SCHEME, IN PARTICULAR, COULD IN DUE COURSE OPEN UP CONSIDERABLE AREAS TO MOTORISED TRAFFIC. AS THIS
· HAPPENED, IT COULD WELL BE THAT MUCH HITHERTO FALLOW LAND WILL BE OPENED UP TO THE PRODUCTION OF MARKETABLE CROPS, ALTHOUGH THE ALTERNATIVE POSSIBILITY OF THE USE OF CONSIDERABLE PARTS FOR PROPERLY MANAGED RECREATIONAL PURPOSES WILL ALSO NEED TO BE CATERED FOR.+