ENG-1987 — Page 124

PRIMARY PRODUCTION

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investigations are designed to supply environmental information for an assortment of biological programmes. Studies of the marine environment are conducted to assess the impact of pollution, including red tides, on fisheries, particularly mariculture, in order to minimise production loss.

Low-interest loans are administered by the department to help farmers and fishermen to finance their operational or long-term investment requirements. The department also organises and finances vocational and technical training for those directly and indirectly involved in primary production. In addition, it is responsible for the registration and supervision of co-operative societies and credit unions. The department manages large areas of open countryside and is responsible for soil and water conservation, woodland management and landscape repair as well as fire-fighting and the development of recreational services in country parks.

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Consumer demand and local primary production are monitored to enable appropriate development planning. Statistics on production factors and food supplies, including imports, are collected and analysed to help formulate local production and marketing policies. The business efficiency of different sectors within the primary industries is studied to establish and update productivity standards and to identify areas for improvement.

Farming and Fishing Development

Owing to the shortage of farm labour in Hong Kong and its rising cost, the main development in the agricultural industry in recent years has been the introduction of labour-saving devices. Farmers use pre-emergence herbicides for weed control in market garden crops and there is widespread use of small farm machines and sprinkler irrigation. At the end of the year, there were 1 970 rotary cultivators and 2 160 sprinkler units in use on vegetable farms.

Integrated pest management, a safe method of pest control on vegetables without the use of toxic pesticides, is the subject of an active development programme undertaken by the Agriculture and Fisheries Department. The use of a safe microbial organism to control the Diamond-back moth, a major pest on leafy green vegetables, has been adopted by local farmers. Seminars and demonstrations are also organised to publicise and promote integrated pest control and safe use of pesticides.

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Technical assistance, agricultural loans and related services have been made available to farmers to promote better farming results.

The cultivation of edible mushrooms has gained considerable popularity in recent years and at the end of 1987 there were 48 mushroom farms. The locally produced fresh mushroom has a 63 per cent share of the local market.

Teams of agricultural extension officers are posted by the department throughout the New Territories to deal with farming problems, and to liaise with co-operative societies and rural associations.

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 760 farmers took part in group discussions led by professional and technical officers from the department and officers made 48 090 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, deck arrangement and fishing method is provided for fishermen, while experiments and