XN000022-1978-06-11 — Page 3

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SUNDAY, JUNE 11, 1978

THIS HERBICIDE IS VERY EFFECTIVE IN INHIBITING THE GERMINATION OF EED SEEDS, BUT 10 HOT HARMFUL TO THE CROPS.

IT IS SUITABLE FOR USE IN MANY TYPES OF VEGETABLES IN HONG KONG, INCLUDING THE POPULAR FLOWERING CABLAGE, CHINESE WHITE CABBAGE AND LEAF MUSTARD+, DR. LEE SAID.

TO PROMOTE THE USE OF THIS HERBICIDE, THE VEGETABLE MARKETING ORGANISATION (V.M.C.) HAS PROVIDED A LORKING FUND FOR BULK PURCHASE OF THE HERBICIDE FOR SALE AT CCST PRICE TC VEGETABLE FARMERS

AT THE V.M.O. DEPOTS AND THE 31 OFFICES OF THE VEGETABLE MARKETING CO-OPERATIVE SOCIETIES.

+BY MEANS OF OUR BULK PURCHASE DIRECTLY FROM THE MANUFACTURER AND SELLING IT AT CCST AFTER ECTTLING, VEGETABLE FARMERS CAN OBTAIN THIS HERBICIDE AT A CHEAPER PRICE AND CAN BE ASSURED OF A CONTINUOUS SUPPLY IN THE HEED CONTROLLING SEASON,+ DR. LEE SAID.

HE RECALLED THAT IN 1974 „HEL. THERE WAS A SUDDEN SERIOUS OUTBREAK OF SLUGS AND SNAILS INFESTING WATER CRESS AT CHUEN LONG, TSUEN WAN, THE DEPARTMENT RECOMMENDED AN EFFECTIVE MOLLUSCICIDE TO FARMERS BUT INADEQUATE SUPPLY IN THE MARKET WAS FOUND.

HOWEVER, THE INFESTATION WAS EVENTUALLY KEPT UNDER CONTROL BY THE SPRAY TEAM OF THE DEPARTMENT WHICH SUCCEEDED IN CBTAINING QUICK SUPPLY THROGH EULK PURCHASE. TO PREVENT FUTURE OCCURRENCE THE V.M.O. HAS NOW ACQUIRED A STOCK CF THE CHEMICAL FOR SALE TO FARMERS.

21. ANOTHER FRONT THE V.H.O. ILL ALSO PROVIDE FINANCIAL SUPPORT TO LAUNCH A CAMPAIGN TO PROMOTE THE USE OF PLASTIC RETHOUSE WHICH HAS BEEN PROVED TO BE EFFECTIVE IN PROTECTING VEGETABLES AGAINST STRONG WINE, HEAVY RAIN AND LOW TEMPERATURE.

THE PLASTIC METHOUSE DONATED IDY V.K.O. TO A FARMER IN YUEN LONG FURTHER DEMONSTRATES ITS EFFECTIVENESS AND FARMERS IN GENERAL ARE CONVINCED CF THE USEFULNESS OF THE STRUCTURE.

DR. LEE SAID: AN OBSTACLE WHICH PREVENTS A WIDE ADOPTION EY FARMERS OF THIS TECHNIQUE IS THE DIFFICULTY IN OETAINING SMALL QUANTITY OF NET MATERIAL EY INDIVIDUAL FARMERS AS MANUFACTURER DOES NOT ACCEPT SHALL UN-COORDINATED ORDERS. TO REMEDY THIS SITUATION, THE V.M.0. HAS AGREED TO PROVIDE FUNDS FOR EULK PURCHASE OF PLASTIC NETS SO THAT FARMERS CAN CETAI, READILY ANY QUANTITIES AT A LOWER PRICE FOR THEIR USE.+

HE NOTED THAT IF MORE NETHCUSES COULD BE BUILT IT WOULD BE BENEFICIAL BOTH TO THE FARMERS AND THE PULLIC EY ENSURING STEADY INCOME TO THE FORMER AND CONTINUCUS SUPPLY OF VEGETABLES AT STABILISED PRICES TO THE LATTER IN THE WAKE OF A SPELL OF BAD MEATHER.

*THE COST OF ERECTING METHOUSE IS AT ABOUT $1.20 PER SQUARE FOOT AND THE AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES DEPARTMENT IS PLEASED TO RENDER TECHNICAL ADVICE AND FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE IN TERMS OF LOANS TO INTERESTED FARMERS,+ OR. LEE ADDED.

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