- 13 -
Farmers to learn more crop protection techniques
Local farmers are expected to learn more about crop protection and its techniques by taking part in a two-day workshop beginning today (Tuesday) at the Agriculture and Fisheries Department's (AFD) Tai Lung Experimental Station, Fan Kam Road, Lin Tong Mei, Sheung Shui.
Amateur farmers, who had enrolled as participants, would also stand to benefit from the workshop which comprised general lectures and group discussions, backed up by practical sessions, slide shows and field work, an AFD agricultural officer, Ms Wendy Ko, said.
She said today's session would place emphasis on the forecasting of diamondback moth, which was a main pest affecting cruciferous vegetables including flowering cabbage, Chinese white cabbage, kale and watercress.
The effective control of this pest was crucial to the production and quality of these vegetables which had generated total turnover of more than $36 million for local farmers in 1993-94, she said.
The second part of the workshop, to be conducted tomorrow, will be devoted to the introduction of a new method to control melonflies.
"This novel behavioural control method is environmentally friendly as it would not generate pesticide contamination on harvested crops," she said.
The workshop is jointly organised by AFD's Plant Protection Section and the Federation of Vegetable Marketing Co-operative Societies Ltd as part of the department's regular exercise to transfer technical know-how to local farmers.
Further enquiries on the workshop and issues relating to crop pest control can be directed to AFD's Plant Protection Section on 2679 4354.
End/Tuesday, November 21, 1995