XN000022-1982-06-16 — Page 5

↓ YESO..

FARMERS ADVISED TO TAKE PRECAUTIONS

****

TE AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES DEPARTMENT HAS BEEN ADVISING FARMERS TO TAKE PRECAUTIONS TO PROTECT THEMSELVES FROM NATURAL DISASTERS AND THE IP AFTERMATH, THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL WAS TOLD TODAY.

LIVESTOCK FARMERS OPERATING IN LOW-LYING AREAS OR ON THE BANKS OF RIVERS LIABLE TO FLOOD ARE ADVISED TO RE-LOCATE THE IR STOCK HOUSES ON HIGHER, SAFER GROUND WHEREVER THIS IS POSSIBLE, AND POND FISH FARMERS ARE ADVISED TO LOWER WATER LEVELS IN PONDE IF FLOODING THREATENS, THE DIRECTOR OF AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES, THE HON JOHN RIDDELL-SWAN, SAID.

CROP FARMERS ARE ENCOURAGED TO USE PROTECTIVE DEVICES, SUCH AS PLASTIC NET HOUSES TO MINIMISE STORM DAMAGE. IN AREAS SUSCEPTIBLE TO FLOODING THEY ARE ADVISED TO GROW CROPS WHICH ARE RELATIVELY RESISTANT TO WATER, HE SAID.

MR RIDDELL-SWAN WAS REPLYING TO A QUESTION BY UNOFFICIAL MEMBER, THE HON HO KAM-FAI, ABOUT ADVICE GIVEN BY THE GOVERNMENT TO FARMERS, ON WAYS TO PROTECT THEIR CROPS.

THE DAMAGE CAUSED BY THE RECENT RAINSTORM, MR RIDDELL-SWAN SAID, WAS UNUSUALLY SEVERE.

HE SAID THERE HAD IN THE PAST FIVE YEARS BEEN ONLY TWO MAJOR TYPHOONS NECESSITATING LARGE SCALE AGRICULTURAL REHABILITATION OPERATIONS.

THE FEASIBILITY OF FARMERS INSURING THEMSELVES AGAINST LOSSES AND DAMAGE HAD BEEN INVESTIGATED BUT IT WAS IMPOSSIBLE, AT THAT TIME, TO FIND AN ACCEPTABLE SCHEME SUITABLE FOR SMALL SCALE FARMERS.

HE WAS, HOWEVER, RE-EXAMINING THIS APPROACH, BUT THERE WERE PROBLEMS, AS SMALL SCALE FARMERS WERE PARTICULARLY SUSCEPTIBLE TO THE EFFECTS OF RANDOM FREAK STORMS WHICH ARE DIFFICULT TO FORESEE. WHEN AFFECTED, THESE FARMERS LOSE NOT ONLY THEIR EXISTING LIVESTOCK AND CROP BUT ARE ALSO DEPRIVED OF EARNINGS UNTIL THE IR REPLACEMENT STOCKS ARE MATURE ENOUGH FOR SALE, HE SAID.

IN REPLY TO A QUESTION BY ANOTHER UNOFFICIAL MEMBER, THE HON CHEUNG YAN-LUNG, MR RIDDELL-SWAN REVEALED THAT 6 720 APPLICATIONS FOR AID FROM THE EMERGENCY RELIEF FUND HAD BEEN RECEIVED FROM FARMERS AFFECTED BY THE RECENT HEAVY RAIN.

THESE CLAIMS WERE INVESTIGATED AND 6 453 GRANTS AMOUNTING TO $2.9 MILLION WERE MADE, WHILE 231 APPLICATIONS WERE REJECTED AND 36 WERE AWAITING APPROVAL.

+ I WOULD STRESS THAT THESE GRANTS ARE NOT COMPENSATION FOR LOSSES SUSTAINED BUT ARE BASED ON RE-ESTABLISHMENT COST AND ARE INTENDED TO ASSIST SMALL FARMERS TO RESUME PRODUCTION AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.

+THIS CONTRIBUTES TO AN EARLY RETURN TO NORMAL SUPPLIES AND PRICES OF FRESH FOODSTUFFS,+ HE SAID.