MONDAY, NOVEMBER 19, 1990
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THE TENDER AND SUCCULENT GRAINS PROVIDE AN UNIQUE COMPLEMENT TO THE SWEETNESS NOT EASILY FOUND IN OTHER VARIETIES.
THE PILOT SCHEME, JOINTLY ADMINISTERED BY THE AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES DEPARTMENT (AFD) AND THE FEDERATION OF THE VEGETABLE MARKETING CO-OPERATIVE SOCIETIES (FVMCS), WAS A FOLLOW-UP TO AFD'S EFFORTS IN JANUARY THIS YEAR TO ENCOURAGE AND HELP LOCAL FARMERS UP-MARKET EXOTIC VEGETABLES BY WAY OF THE MASS SEEDLING PRODUCTION TECHNIQUE.
GROW
THE DEPARTMENT BELIEVES THAT THESE VEGETABLES HAVE GREAT
MARKET POTENTIALS.
HAVING GAINED MUCH USEFUL EXPERIENCE FROM THE PILOT PRODUCTION PROGRAMME, THE FVMCS THIS TIME PLAYS A MUCH MORE ACTIVE ROLE IN ORGANISING THE PRODUCTION OF THE "GOLD AND SILVER" SUPER SWEET CORN TO ENSURE STABLE SUPPLY.
MARKETING OF THE PRODUCE AND LIAISON WITH BUYERS ARE LOOKED AFTER BY THE VEGETABLE MARKETING ORGANISATION (VMO).
A TOTAL OF 48 FARMERS, ALL WELL-EXPERIENCED
IN VEGETABLE GROWING, HAVE JOINED THE PRODUCTION PROGRAMME AROUND THE END OF SEPTEMBER ON ABOUT 5.5 HECTARES OF LAND.
AND FOR THE FIRST TIME THE VEGETABLE SEEDLINGS USED FOR PRODUCTION ARE RAISED BY THE FARMERS THEMSELVES ADOPTING THE TECHNOLOGY TRANSFERRED FROM AFD).
THE FVMCS RAISED THE SERDLINGS IN A GREEN HOUSE AT AFD'S TAI LUNG EXPERIMENTAL STATION USING THE MASS SEEDLING PRODUCTION TECHNIQUE AND SUPPLIED THEM TO FARMERS AT COST.
MEANWHILE, PLANS ARE AFOOT TO SET UP THE FVMCS' OWN GREEN HOUSES AT TSIU KENG AND TA KWU LING FOR MASS SEEDLING PRODUCTION.
WHEN THE GREEN HOUSE PLAN MATERALISES, THE FEDERATION WILL RE IN A BETTER POSITION TO PLAN AND CO-ORDINATE PRODUCTION FOR SUPPLY ΤΟ SPECIFIC BUYERS THROUGH THE VMO,
THIS PLANNED AND MARKET-ORIENTED APPROACH, IP SUCCESSFUL, WILL SET A MILESTONE FOR HONG KONG'S AGRICULTURE, BECAUSE FOR THE FIRST TIME, EFFORTS ARE MADE TO BALANCE THE SUPPLY AND DEMAND OF A CROP ΤΟ AVOID WASTAGE AND TO ENSURE A STEADY SUPPLY FOR CONSUMERS AS WELL AS TO SECURE REASONABLY GOOD RETURN FOR PRODUCERS.
SILVER" SUPER A TASTING
TO SECURE BUYERS' CONFIDENCE IN THE "GOLD AND SWEET CORN, THE VMO AND THE FVMCS TODAY (MONDAY) ORGANISED PANEL AND A TRIP FOR THEM TO ACTUALLY SEE THE CORN IN THE FIELDS OF TSIU KENG, SHEUNG SHUI.
PRODUCTION PROGRAMMES FOR OTHER EXOTIC VEGETABLE TYPES HAVE BEEN WORKED OUT AND THE NEXT CROP, WHICH INCLUDED RED LETTUCE, SAVOY CABBAGE AND PURPLE CABBAGE, WILL BE MARKETED EARLY NEXT YEAR.
SWEET CROPPING
AT A LATER STAGE, CROPS SUCH AS TOMATO, BRINJAL, CELERY, PEPPER AND JAPANESE RADISH WILL ALSO BE INCLUDED IN THE PROGRAMME IN ADDITION TO SUPER SWEET CORN.
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