ENG-1994 — Page 171

PRIMARY PRODUCTION

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vegetable and flower cultivation in 1994. The value of crop production was about $487 million.

The main vegetable crops grown are Chinese white cabbage, Chinese flowering cabbage, leaf mustard and lettuce. These are cultivated throughout the year, with peak production in the cooler months. Some exotic vegetables, including celery, radicchio, supersweet corn and tomatoes, are also grown. Straw mushrooms are produced on a small scale, using industrial cotton waste as the growing medium.

Common types of cut flowers such as ginger lilies and white jade orchids are produced throughout the year. A wide range of ornamental pot plants is produced in various commercial nurseries. Peach blossom, gladioli, chrysanthemums, lilies and ornamental citrus are grown especially for the Lunar New Year.

Due to insufficient land for extensive grazing, pigs and poultry are the principal animals reared for food. Livestock production has suffered a decline in recent years due to the implementation of a livestock waste control scheme. Adjusting to the progressive implementation of environmental pollution controls, the industry has become increasingly modern and sophisticated, and there has been a steady but definite trend towards fewer but bigger farm units.

Pigs in Hong Kong are mostly crosses of imported breeds. The value of locally-produced pigs in 1994 amounted to $206 million and that of poultry, including chickens, ducks, pigeons and quail, amounted to $440 million.

Agricultural Development

In the face of strong competition from imports, and land and labour constraints, the agricultural sector must increasingly turn to farming methods that are intensive, labour- saving and geared to high value-added production. The application of modern technology is essential.

The Agriculture and Fisheries Department has been undertaking a considerable amount of adaptive research into modern techniques suitable for application in Hong Kong. New farming techniques, especially less labour-intensive ones, are evaluated and promoted. Experiments to improve quality and yield are conducted. Good quality seeds and breeding stocks of pigs and poultry are made available for commercial propagation. Local vegetable farmers are encouraged to cultivate premium vegetables including traditional Chinese types, exotic varieties and vegetables produced through organic farming, protected cropping and soilless culture for up-market outlets. The results of such work have been encouraging.

The Hong Kong public has become increasingly concerned about pesticides, especially about their impact on the environment and public health. To conserve the environment and to protect consumers against unsafe pesticide residues, the department implemented an accredited farm scheme at the end of 1994. Under the scheme, accredited farms are strictly monitored and supervised by the department on their use of pesticides. Their produce is also checked for the presence of pesticide residue by the Vegetable Marketing Organisation before marketing. To facilitate easy differentiation of produce originating from these farms, special labels are provided and the produce is marketed at retail outlets accredited by the organisation.

The long-running public concern about environmental protection stimulated the current legislation which controls the import and sale of highly toxic pesticides and chemicals, and