ENG-1969 — Page 112

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PRIMARY PRODUCTION

Loans are available to farmers through four separate loan funds: the Kadoorie Agricultural Aid Loan Fund, the J. E. Joseph Trust Fund, the World Refugee Year Loan Fund and the Vegetable Marketing Organisation Loan Fund, which are all administered through the department. As at December 31, 1969, the total loans issued and recovered since inception of the four funds were in the order of $46,219,906.43 and $42,979,112.16 respectively.

In the rural education programme this year, over 489 farmers attended discussion groups led by professional and technical officers from the department. A restricted programme of formal training was also carried out in which 201 farmers and farmers' sons and daughters received vocational training in a wide variety of subjects. Over 124,815 visits were made to farmers by both professional and technical officers and farmers also visited govern- ment experimental farms and farming projects.

With the rising labour cost, farmers have increasing interest in the use of small farm machines and sprinkler irrigation. At the end of 1969, 56 'Landmaster' cultivators were in use on fields and 30 sprinkler units were established on vegetable farms.

PRINCIPAL CROPS

The principal crops grown in Hong Kong are vegetables, rice, flowers, fruit and some other field crops. The value of crop produc- tion has grown from $75.8 million in 1964-5 to $127 million in 1968-9, an increase of some 67 per cent. Vegetables production presently accounts for over 78 per cent of the total value, having increased from $54 million in 1964-5 to $99 million in 1968-9.

Rice is the staple food of the southern Chinese. Two crops of rice can be grown in a year on land where irrigation water is adequate. The normal yield from an acre of two-crop land is approximately two tons, but the yield per acre can be increased to over five tons by planting high yielding strains of rice selected from varieties IRS and Nonsensitive BPI (Bicol) with improved management and proper manuring. Since 1954 the acreage of rice land has dropped from 23,353 acres to 14,500 acres in 1969. Rice production is giving way to very intensive vegetable production which gives a high return.