XN000022-1984-03-09 — Page 6

FRIDAY, MARCH 9, 1984

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NEW CROP POTENTIAL EXPLORED *****

THE AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES DEPARTMENT IS CONTINUING TO EXPLORE THE POTENTIAL OF NEW CROPS AND TO DEVELOP IMPROVED VARIETIES OF EXISTING CROPS FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE FARMERS.

SPEAKING AT THE INAUGURATION OF THE 32ND TERM COMMITTEE OF THE FEDERATION OF VEGETABLE MARKETING CO-OPERATIVE SOCIETIES THIS (FRIDAY) EVENING, THE DIRECTOR OF AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES, DR JOHN RIDDELL-SWAN, SAID THAT ONE EXAMPLE OF THIS WAS THE DEVELOPMENT OF HIGH-YIELDING, GOOD-QUALITY STRAIN OF MUSHROOM NOW BEING MADE AVAILABLE IN LARGE QUANTITIES TO FARMERS.

HE POINTED OUT THAT 76 PER CENT OF THE STRAW MUSHROOMS CONSUMED IN HONG KONG IS NOW GROWN LOCALLY.

DR RIDDELL-SWAN SAID, THE DEPARTMENT HAD ALSO REORGANISED AND STRENGTHENED ITS TECHNICAL FIELD SERVICES BY REDEPLOYING STAFF.

+AGRICULTURAL POLLUTION CONTINUES TO BE A PROBLEM, BUT THE AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES DEPARTMENT HAS HAD CONSIDERABLE SUCCESS WITH PILOT AGRICULTURAL WASTE DISPOSAL PROJECTS IN PAT HEUNG AND PAI MIN KOK AND WITH THE PIG MANURE COMPOSTING SCHEME AT NGAU TAM MEI.

+THESE PROJECTS HAVE GREATLY IMPROVED THE ENVIRONMENT OF THESE AREAS AND THE COMPOSTED MANURE DERIVED FROM THEM IS PROVING. POPULAR, HE SAID.

HE SAID 1983 WAS NOT VERY GOOD FOR VEGETABLE FARMERS, AS JANUARY TO JUNE WAS THE WETTEST SIX-MONTH PERIOD SINCE' 1889. DEPRESSED VEGETABLE PRODUCTION WAS FOLLOWED BY A DESTRUCTIVE TYP HOON--TYPHOON ELLEN--IN SEPTEMBER, WHICH DAMAGED MORE THAN 1 500 HECTARES OF CROPS.

+THIS, TOGETHER WITH PERIODIC SLUMPS IN VEGETABLE PRICES, COUPLED WITH INCREASED INPUT COSTS AND FURTHER LAND LOSSES, DID LITTLE TO HELP THE ECONOMICS OF VEGETABLE PRODUCTION, HE SAID.

HOWEVER, FARMERS RESPONDED WELL TO THE DIFFICULTIES SO THAT PRODUCTION FELL BY ONLY 1.3 PER CENT.

HE SAID THAT PRODUCTION PER UNIT OF LAND AVAILABLE FOR FARMING ACTUALLY INCREASED BY FIVE PER CENT, AND SALES OF LOCALLY-PRODUCED VEGETABLES THROUGH THE VEGETABLE MARKETING ORGANISATION INCREASED BY 6.6 PER CENT TO MORE THAN 60 700 TONNES, VALUED AT $187 MILLION.

SIXTY-EIGHT PER CENT OF THIS, HE ADDED, CAME FROM MEMBERS OF THE VEGETABLE MARKETING CO-OPERATIVE SOCIETIES.

LAST YEAR, STAFF OF THE AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES DEPARTMENT MADE MORE THAN 70 000 VISITS TO CO-OPERATIVE SOCIETIES AND INDIVIDUAL FARMERS TO PROVIDE TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE AND ADVICE.

IN ADDITION, 2 640 LOANS AMOUNTING TO $26.8 MILLION WERE MADE TO FARMERS PROVIDING CAPITAL FOR DEVELOPMENT.

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