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FRIDAY, MAY 11, 1979
FINANCIAL AID TO FARMERS
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THE VEGETABLE MARKETING ORGANISATION HAS ALLOCATED $300,000 IN DEVELOPMENT GRANTS TO ASSIST VEGETABLE FARMERS INTERESTED IN BUILDING NETHOUSES.
ACCORDING TO THE AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES DEPARTMENT'S SENIOR AGRICULTURAL DEVELOPMENT OFFICER, MR. T.C. CHAU APPLICATIONS FOR THE GRANTS WILL BE ACCEPTED BY THE DEPARTMENT FROM MONDAY.
THE
MR. CHAU SAID TODAY (FRIDAY) THE GRANTS WERE NOT AN ON-GOING SUBSIDY AND WOULD BE IN THE FORM OF +MATERIAL IN KIND+ THE ACTUAL PLASTIC NETTING USED IN THE NETHOUSE.
SINCE THE VMO AND THE DEPARTMENT INTRODUCED EXPERIMENTAL NETHOUSES THREE YEARS AGO, THERE ARE NOW SIX PLASTIC NETHOUSES IN THE NEW TERRITORIES.
THE ALLOCATION OF THE DEVELOPMENT GRANTS WILL MAKE IT POSSIBLE FOR THE ESTABLISHMENT OF UP TO 70 MORE NETHOUSES TO BE BUILT BY FARMERS.
MR. CHAU SAID THE NETHOUSES WERE IDEAL FOR HONG KONG'S EXTREME WEATHER CONDITIONS FOR THE PROTECTION OF CROPS AND SEEDLINGS DURING TYPHOONS, HEAVY RAINS AND FROST.
THE GRANTS WILL BE ISSUED ON A FIRST-COME-FIRST-SERVED BASIS TO APPLICANTS WHO HAVE MET THE CRITERIA FOR ELIGIBILITY LAID DOWN BY THE MARKETING ADVISORY BOARD.
MR. CHAU SAID THE MAXIMUM GRANT TO AN ELIGIBLE FARMING FAMILY SHOULD NOT EXCEED $10,000 OR 45 PER CENT OF THE ESTIMATED TOTAL COST OF THE NETHOUSE, WHICHEVER IS THE LEAST.
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