ENG-1978 — Page 297

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Home-grown produce

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Most of the 4.6 million people living in Hong Kong insist on fresh food. Although only 10 per cent of the territory's 1,052 square kilometres is available for cultiva- tion, highly intensive farming helps satisfy some of their needs. Up to three times a day, a variety of vegetables such as white cabbage and flowering cabbage are cut and transported to market. Local farmers produce 42 per cent of fresh vegetables, between 12 to 15 per cent of Hong Kong's pig supply and more than 60 per cent of live chickens consumed. While Hong Kong agriculture is essentially based on a market garden system, farmers nevertheless at- tained a total gross production figure of $842 million for the 1977-8 financial year. Farming in Hong Kong has never offered an easy living but farmers have always been flexible, enterprising and pro- gressive. The Agriculture and Fisheries Department is assisting the territory's farmers by its work in key areas such as research, modern production techniques, pest control and the improvement of breeding stock. Agricultural officers meet farmers and local co-operative societies to give on-the-spot advice ranging from in- formation about yield increases to the pro- vision of credit from loan fund schemes. The department also administers the Vege- table Marketing Organisation which en- sures that wholesale vegetables are sold at a fair price for producer and consumer alike. Agriculture in Hong Kong is diverse. As well as the perennial leafy green vege- tables, crops include spring onions, long beans, Chinese gourds, tomatoes, flowers and fruit. Pigs and poultry - including ducks, pigeons and quail - provide protein and there is a fresh milk supply from local dairies.

Previous page: A familiar farming scene in Hong Kong: Hakka women in their distinc- tive broad-brimmed hats work in the fields. Left: A poultry breeder holds a batch of 10 day-old chickens; an Agriculture and Fisher- ies Department officer checks poultry serum; a duck farm in Sha Tau Kok.