ENG-1998 — Page 183

CHAPTER 8 PRIMARY PRODUCTION

THE agriculture and fisheries industries went through unprecedented challenges in 1998. With incidents such as the outbreak of H5N1 avian influenza and pigs contaminated with a non-registered drug, clenbuterol, the local livestock industry is readjusting itself to the public demand of better food safety and farm hygiene. The marine fish culture industry, which was adversely affected by an extensive outbreak of red tides, is re-establishing itself. The HKSAR Government has helped the industries to rehabilitate through provision of support services and low-interest loans. Chicken producers started a comprehensive and thorough cleaning and disinfection programme in February 1998 as they prepared to restock their farms and resume production. Locally grown chickens became available again in May 1998 and full- scale production has largely resumed by summer 1998.

To prevent the use of clenbuterol as feed additive for pigs, local pig producers adopted in August 1998 a tracing system to identify pigs back to the farm or origin through consignment-specific tattoos. The system worked effectively and helped prevent the further use of the substance.

Most mariculturists have restocked their farms. The mariculture industry is working with the Agriculture and Fisheries Department on a trial sea-bed dredging scheme in three mariculture zones in an endeavour to improve the marine ecological environment and to reduce the risk of fish kills.

The Agricultural Industry

Local agriculture is directed towards the production of high quality fresh food through intensive land use. In 1998, the industry produced agricultural products worth $1.32 billion accounting for 14 per cent of vegetables, 10 per cent of live poultry, and 15 per cent of live pigs consumed. Detailed statistics are at Appendix 29.

Agricultural Development

Chicken production resumed in February 1998 as chicken producers completed cleaning and disinfecting their farms. The department supervised the cleaning to ensure that all chicken sheds and every piece of the equipment used were properly cleaned and disinfected before a farm was allowed to restock and resume production. Chicken producers were offered low-interest loans to help them improve their facilities and hygiene standards.

To help ensure that local poultry are free from H5 influenza infection, the department has implemented a regular programme of sampling and testing on farms. Additional licensing conditions have also been introduced for chicken farms requiring

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