XN000022-1985-06-19 — Page 6

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WEDNESDAY, JUNE 19, 1985

FARMERS GET CHANCE TO LEARN U.S. TECHNIQUES

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FOURTEEN VEGETABLE FARMERS WILL LEAVE FOR THE UNITED STATES ON FRIDAY (JUNE 21) ON A STUDY TOUR ORGANISED BY THE AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES DEPARTMENT AND THE FEDERATION OF VEGETABLE MARKETING CO-OPERATIVE SOCIETIES.

THE STUDY TOUR, THE EIGHTH SINCE 1977, WILL LAST 12 DAYS.

AT A BANNER PRESENTATION CEREMONY TODAY (WEDNESDAY), THE DIRECTOR OF AGRICULTURE AND FISHERIES, DR JOHN RIDDELL-SWAN, SAID THE MAIN OBJECTIVES OF SUCH TOURS WERE TO PROVIDE LOCAL FARMERS WITH OPPORTUNITIES TO ACQUAINT THEMSELVES WITH ADVANCED CULTIVATION TECHNIQUES, TO BROADEN THE IR OUTLOOK ON AGRICULTURE AND TO GIVE THEM AN INSIGHT INTO THE TYPES OF LIFESTYLE LED BY THEIR COUNTERPARTS ELSEWHERE.

IN ADDITION, DR RIDDELL-SWAN SAID, THE TOURS PROVIDED AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THE EXCHANGE OF FARMING KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE- BETWEEN LOCAL AND OVERSEAS FARMERS.

+SEVEN SUCH TOURS HAVE SO FAR BEEN ORGANISED TO THE UNITED KINGDOM, HOLLAND, JAPAN, AND THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, ALL OF WHICH HAVE BEEN VERY SUCCESSFUL AND FEEDBACK FROM PARTICIPATING FARMERS HAS BEEN ENCOURAGING AS THEY APPEAR TO HAVE BENEFITED FROM THE TOURS AND HAVE BROUGHT BACK USEFUL TECHNICAL KNOW-HOW WHICH THEY HAVE SHARED WITH LOCAL FARMERS, HE SAID.

WHILE IN THE UNITED STATES, THE TEAM. ACCOMPANIED BY AGRICULTURAL OFFICER, MR K.Y. HO, WILL VISIT RESEARCH CENTRES, VEGETABLE FARMS AND CO-OPERATIVE SOCIETIES.

THEY WILL ALSO MEET AMERICAN OFFICIALS WHO WILL BRIEF THEM ON AGRICULTURE IN THE COUNTRY AND TAKE THEM TO SEE LARGE-SCALE AND SOPHISTICATED PRODUCTION OF GARDEN CROPS, THE LATEST TECHNIQUES AND METHODS USED IN THE CULTIVATION OF ARTICHOKE, MUSHROOM, CELERY AND LETTUCE, AND COMMERCIAL PRODUCTION OF SEEDS.

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