XN000022-1983-03-18 — Page 12

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FRIDAY, MARCH 18, 1983

FARMERS ENCOURAGED TO CULTIVATE MORE LAND

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HONG KONG'S FARMERS WERE URGED TODAY TO CULTIVATE MORE LAND TO MAKE UP FOR THE DECLINE IN VEGETABLE FARMING.

WHILE NOTING THAT THE LOSS RATE OF LAND UNDER VEGETABLE CULTIVATION WAS MUCH LOWER LAST YEAR THAN IN PREVIOUS YEARS, THE DIRECTOR OF AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES, DR J.M. RIDDELL-SWAN TOLD THE FARMERS, NEVERTHELESS THAT THE CONTINUED LOSS OF FARMING LAND MUST BE MADE UP FOR BY SPECIAL EFFORTS.+

HE TOLD THEM TO BRING BACK INTO CULTIVATION AVAILABLE SUITABLE FALLOW LAND, AND TO USE MORE MODERN TECHNIQUES AND EQUIPMENT TO MAXIMISE PRODUCTIVITY.

DR RIDDELL-SWAN WAS SPEAKING THIS EVENING AT THE INAUGURATION OF THE 31ST TERM COMMITTEE OF THE FEDERATION OF VEGETABLE MARKETING COOPERATIVE SOCIETIES.

HE ALSO TOLD THE FARMERS THAT THE AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES DEPARTMENT WOULD HELP ANY FARMER INTERESTED IN LAND DEVELOPMENT AND IN INCREASING PRODUCTIVITY BY PROVIDING TECHNICAL HELP AND LOANS +WHERE NECESSARY FROM DEPARTMENTALLY-ADMINISTERED FUNDS+.

DR RIDDELL-SWAN POINTED OUT THAT LAST YEAR, 1 180 LOANS TOTALLING $12 028 300 WERE MADE TO FARMERS ON THE TECHNICAL SIDE, DEPARTMENTAL OFFICERS MADE 43 800 VISITS TO HELP FARMERS AND PROVIDE ADVICE.

HE SAID ALSO THAT THE WEATHER LAST YEAR WAS NOT ALL GOOD FOR VEGETABLE FARMING. THE HIGH RAINFALL, WHICH WAS ABOUT 46 PER CENT ABOVE AVERAGE, CAUSED A BIG REDUCTION IN VEGETABLE OUTPUT.

+AND THE TWO SEVERE RAINSTORMS IN MAY AND AUGUST HAD A PARTICULARLY SERIOUS EFFECT, HE ADDED.

HOWEVER, THESE SETBACKS WERE OFFSET, AT LEAST TO SOME EXTENT, BY HIGHER PRICES AND THE VALUE OF VEGETABLES MARKETED THROUGH THE VEGETABLE MARKETING ORGANISATION IN 1982 ROSE SOME SIX PER CENT AS COMPARED WITH 1981, HE SAID.

DR RIDDELL-SWAN THANKED THE OUT-GOING CHAIRMAN OF THE FEDERATION MR KO HOK AND HIS COMMITTEE FOR THEIR HARD WORK AND CO-OPERATION WITH HIS DEPARTMENT DURING THE PAST YEAR, AND CONGRATULATED THE INCOMING CHAIRMAN MR FUNG KWONG AND THE IR COMMITTEE ON THE IR ELECTION.

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