ENG-1996 — Page 178

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PRIMARY PRODUCTION

sector to modernise its farming methods. The department has been researching modern techniques suitable for application in Hong Kong.

To increase the competitiveness and value of local produce, farmers are encouraged to cultivate premium vegetables and to introduce good quality breeding stocks of pigs and poultry. The department provides infrastructural and financial support through low-interest loans to farmers to enhance agricultural productivity and promote safe and environmentally friendly production methods.

To better protect the environment and consumers against pesticide residues, the department launched an Accredited Farm Scheme in late 1994. Accredited farms are strictly monitored and supervised on their use of pesticides. Produce is further checked for pesticide residues by the Vegetable Marketing Organisation, a quasi- government body, before marketing. Accredited produce is sold from specially labelled baskets at retail outlets selected by the Vegetable Marketing Organisation. The scheme has been generally well received and, in April 1995, it was extended to accredit farms in China supplying vegetables to Hong Kong. Progress has been encouraging.

The department implemented an agricultural land rehabilitation scheme in 1988 to return to cultivation fallow land not earmarked for development. The scheme effects improvements in irrigation, drainage and farm road access. Assistance including tenure arrangements, advance payment of rents, soil improvement and marketing facilities, is also available and the scheme has made good progress.

Since mid-1994, the department has been implementing a three-year Livestock Keeping Licensing Scheme under which all livestock farms are required to install and operate waste-treatment systems to prevent pollution. At the end of 1996, the department had issued 246 licences and a further 489 licence applications were in process. The department has developed a non-polluting, odourless and effluent-free pig-on-litter method which uses sawdust as bedding material on which pigs are raised. The used sawdust is recycled as soil conditioner or organic fertiliser for crop cultivation.

Besides technical support, the department administers loan funds which provide low-interest loans to the agricultural sector. They are the Kadoorie Agricultural Aid Loan Fund, the J. E. Joseph Trust Fund and the Vegetable Marketing Organisation Loan Fund. At the end of 1996, loans issued since the inception of these funds reached $332 million.

The Fisheries Industry

Marine fish constitute one of Hong Kong's most important primary products. In 1996, total production from marine capture and culture fisheries was estimated at about 192 100 tonnes, with a wholesale value of $2.5 billion. This represented a decrease of 6 per cent in weight but an increase of 0.4 per cent in value compared with 1995. In weight terms, marine capture fisheries contributed 96 per cent towards total production while the remainder came from culture operations.

The Hong Kong fishing fleet, manned by 21 600 fishermen, comprises some 4 800 vessels of which 4 400 are mechanised. It supplied over 53 per cent of all marine produce consumed locally during the year.

Major fishing methods include trawling, lining, gill-netting and purse-seining. Trawling accounted for 75 per cent, or 138 000 tonnes, of marine fish landed in 1996.