ENG-1982 — Page 99

62

PRIMARY PRODUCTION

Teams of agricultural development officers are posted by the department throughout the New Territories to deal with farming and pollution problems, and to liaise with co-operative societies and rural associations. Both credit facilities and technical advice are available to farmers and the agricultural development officers also assist them in land development and rehabilitation.

In the rural development programme during the year, more than 841 farmers attended farm discussion groups led by professional and technical officers from the department. Some 13 field demonstrations of new strains of mushroom spawn isolated by the department were conducted for the benefit of growers. Officers also made more than 70 000 visits to farmers and co-operative societies. Visits were also arranged for farmers to see government experimental farms and farming projects.

Fisheries development work involves modernising fishing craft and introducing more efficient fishing gear and navigational aids. An advisory service on hull design and deck arrangement is provided for fishermen, while experiments and demonstrations are conducted to test the suitability of new fishing gear. Training classes in navigation and business management for coxwains, engineers and radio-telephone operators working on fishing boats are organised in the main fishing ports.

Education is provided for the children of fishermen at 14 schools run by the Fish Marketing Organisation. At the end of 1982, more than 3 825 children were attending these schools. A further 45 were attending other schools on scholarships awarded by the organisation.

Close contact with the fishing community is maintained through liaison with producer associations and fishermen's co-operative societies. Ten Fish Marketing Organisation liaison offices operate in the main fishing centres to provide a link with the fishermen.

Loans

Loans are available to the agricultural industry through three main loan funds the Kadoorie Agricultural Aid Loan Fund, the J. E. Joseph Trust Fund and the Vegetable Marketing Organisation Loan Fund. All are administered through the Agriculture and Fisheries Department. By December 31, 1982, loans issued since the inception of these three funds had reached a total of $157 million. Of this, $149 million had been recovered.

The Fisheries Development Loan Fund, with a capital of $5 million, is administered by the Director of Agriculture and Fisheries specifically for developing the fishing fleet. Finance from the World Refugee Year Loan Fund for Co-operative Societies, donated by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees in 1962, is also available to members of fishermen's co-operative societies. The Fish Marketing Organisation Loan Fund, with a ceiling of $10 million, is another important source of loan finance for fishermen. The organisation also administers a revolving loan fund, financed by the Co-operative for American Relief Everywhere (CARE), specifically for shrimp fishermen. On December 31, 1982, loans issued since the inception of these four funds totalled $117 million, of which $103 million had been repaid.

Co-operative societies operate under a Co-operative Societies Ordinance, which provides for the appointment of a registrar - the Director of Agriculture and Fisheries. His powers and duties relate to the registration of co-operative societies and their by-laws, the auditing of accounts, inspection and inquiry, general supervision of operations, and such other matters as mediation in disputes and dissolution of the co-operative societies when necessary. At the end of the year, some 11 835 farmers and more than 1 912 fishermen were members of co-operative societies. There were 79 societies and two federations among