THURSDAY, JUNE 5, 1986
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FARMERS GET U.S. FARMING STUDY CHANCE
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FIFTEEN FARMERS HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO STUDY MODERN TECHNIQUES IN CROP FARMING, PEST CONTROL, MARKETING AND FARM MACHINERIES IN THE UNITED STATES THIS MONTH.
THE GROUP WILL LEAVE ON SATURDAY (JUNE 7) FOR CALIFORNIA ON A NINE-DAY STUDY TOUR ORGANISED JOINTLY BY THE AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES DEPARTMENT, THE VEGETABLE MARKETING ORGANISATION AND THE FEDERATION OF VEGETABLE MARKETING CO-OPERATIVE SOCIETIES.
THE STUDY GROUP WILL BE ACCOMPANIED BY AGRICULTURAL OFFICER, MR C.W. FONG, WHO WILL ACT AS THE TEAM'S LIAISON OFFICER.
TO MARK THE GROUP'S DEPARTURE, THE DIRECTOR OF AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES, DR LAWRENCE LEE, PRÉSENTED A BANNER TO TEAM LEADER, MR NG YIU-TING, AT A CÉREMONY THIS (THURSDAY) AFTERNOON.
DR LEE SAID THAT THE MAIN OBJECTIVES OF THESE STUDY TOURS, THE NINTH SINCE 1977, WERE TO ENABLE LOCAL FARMERS TO INCREASE FARMING KNOWLEDGE, TO ACQUAINT THEMSELVES WITH ADVANCED VEGETABLE CULTIVATION TECHNIQUES, AND TO LEARN THE MARKETING PRACTICES OF THEIR COUNTERPARTS ELSEWHERE.
+ THE TOURS ALSO PROVIDE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THE EXCHANGE OF FARMING KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE BETWEEN LOCAL AND OVERSEAS FARMERS.+
DR LEE SAID THAT TOURS HAD SO FAR BEEN ORGANISED TO THE UNITED KINGDOM, HOLLAND, JAPAN AND THE UNITED STATES.
+THESE TOURS HAVE BEEN VERY SUCCESSFUL AND FEEDBACK FROM PARTICIPATING FARMERS HAS BEEN ENCOURAGING AS THEY APPEAR TO HAVE BENEFITED FROM THEM. THEY HAVE BROUGHT BACK USEFUL TECHNICAL KNOW-HOW WHICH THEY HAVE SHARED WITH LOCAL FARMERS, + HE SAID.
DR LEE NOTED THAT MORE AND MORE FARMERS OF YOUNGER AGE WERE TAKING PART IN SUCH STUDY TOURS. +THIS IS INDEED AN ENCOURAGING SIGN, HE SAID.
HE HOPED THAT THE TOUR WOULD ENABLE THEM TO ACQUIRE PRACTICAL KNOWLEDGE. ACTIVATE THEIR INTEREST AND POTENTIALS IN AGRICULTURE AND ON THEIR RETURN, JOIN OTHERS IN DEVELOPING THE LOCAL FARMING INDUSTRY.
WHILE IN THE UNITED STATES, THE TEAM WILL MEET U.S. OFFICIALS WHO WILL BRIEF THEM ON AGRICULTURE AND TAKE THEM ON VISITS TO RESEARCH CENTRES, VEGETABLE FARMS AND WHOLESALE MARKETS.
THEY WILL ALSO TOUR A LARGE FARMING MACHINERY COMPANY AND SEE THE LATEST TECHNIQUES IN PLANTING, PEST CONTROL AND HARVESTING AS WELL AS THE COMMERCIAL PRODUCTION OF SEEDS.
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