Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department Report 2007-2008
[Director's Message] [Overview] [Agriculture] [Fisheries]
[Inspection and Quarantine] [Nature Conservation] [Country and Marine Parks] [Appendices] |
Agriculture WORK OF THE AGRICULTURE BRANCH The objectives of the branch are:
THE AGRICULTURE INDUSTRY Agriculture in Hong Kong is undertaken mostly in the urban fringes. Currently, only 19 square kilometres out of the territory's 1 104 square kilometres of land area are farmed. Some 6 100 farmers, about 0.17 per cent of the territory's total work force, are engaged in agriculture. The local agricultural industry involves producing quality fresh food through intensive land use and modern farming practices. Despite its relatively small scale, the industry produces a substantial amount of vegetables, poultry and pigs. Local agricultural production in the years 2006 and 2007 were valued at about $1.18 billion and $1.09 billion respectively. Statistics on agricultural production, fresh foodstuff consumption and agricultural land utilisation are at Appendices 1 to 3. Vegetable crops grown year-round include Chinese white cabbage, flowering Chinese cabbage, lettuce and celtuce. Long bean, water spinach, Chinese spinach, cucumber and several species of Chinese gourd are produced in summer, while spinach, watercress, Chinese kale and matrimony vine are grown in the cooler months. Orchids and ornamental plants are now grown all year round. Dahlia, chrysanthemum, lily and gladiolus are grown in winter, while ginger lily, lotus flower and sunflower are grown in summer. Peach blossom is grown specially for the Lunar New Year season.
PREMIUM VEGETABLES General The Department continues to promote the cultivation of premium vegetables to serve niche markets and help farmers gain better economic returns. Three improved varieties including seedless water melon, baby pumpkin and strawberry were introduced to farmers for production. Local Vegetable Farm Voluntary Registration Scheme Since July 2006, the Department has been running a voluntary registration scheme for local vegetable farms. Under the scheme, the Department has set up a central vegetable farm database containing farmers' particulars, farm size, location and horticultural details. As at March 2008, 1 885 farms covering a total area of 395 hectares have joined the scheme. Accredited Farm Scheme The Department has been running a voluntary Accredited Farm Scheme since 1994. Under the Scheme, the Department advises participating farmers on the proper and safe use of pesticides; monitors their horticultural practices and samples their vegetables for pesticide residues analysis. Accredited farmers market their vegetables through the VMO which distributes vegetables to designated retail outlets including wet market stalls and supermarkets. To enable easy identification by the public, every designated outlet carries a logo of VMO "Accredited Retailer". As at March 2008, 193 local farms covering a total area of 71 hectares and 32 vegetable farms operating by Hong Kong farmers in Guangdong covering 1 868 hectares had been accredited. There are 250 accredited retail outlets located in different districts to provide easy access to accredited vegetables for consumers. Organic Farming Since December 2000, the Department has been helping local farmers shifting towards organic farming practices by providing relevant knowledge, technical support and low-interest loans, while the VMO assists farmers in selling their organic produce through its established sales channels. Up to March 2008, 110 farms covering a total area of 44 hectares have joined the Department's "Organic Farming Support Service". Together, on average they produce about four tonnes of organic vegetables per day, including vegetable varieties such as lettuce, white cabbage, flowering cabbage, water spinach, Chinese spinach, Chinese kale, Garland chrysanthemum, eggplant, bitter cucumber, wax gourd, yard-long bean, cherry tomato, carrot, etc. The Department also actively supports the Hong Kong Organic Resource Centre (HKORC), a non-profit organisation co-founded by the Hong Kong Baptist University, the Hong Kong Organic Farming Association and the Produce Green Foundation, to develop and implement certification standards for organic production and processing in Hong Kong. Since the launch of this organic certification service in late 2004, 36 organic farms and 2 processing companies have been certified.
AGRICULTURAL STRUCTURES Greenhouses Controlled-environment greenhouses are built with transparent plastic films or polycarbonate sheets to provide an enclosed environment that enables the regulation of temperature, humidity and intensity of light for the optimal production of crops. To further increase productivity, advanced greenhouses are often equipped with automatic irrigation, fertilisation and/or spraying systems as well. The Department has adapted greenhouse technology to local conditions and extended it to farmers through seminars and demonstrations for the intensive production of high value crops, such as white bitter cucumber, rock melon, edible fungus, edible white chrysanthemum and lily. Newsletters are issued regularly to update farmers on the latest developments and an electronic version is also available on the Department's website. Letters of Approval Under the terms and conditions of land grants, a farmer who wishes to build an agricultural structure (greenhouse, livestock shed, hatchery, fish pond or store room) on leasehold agricultural land must apply to the Lands Department for a Letter of Approval for Agricultural Structures. To facilitate applications by farmers, the AFCD has streamlined procedures with the Lands Department and taken up the responsibility for assessing such applications. During 2007-08, the Department processed 21 applications covering 41 agricultural structures. One greenhouse, 2 mushroom sheds and 3 other structures were also granted appropriate approval from the Lands Department.
SUPPORT AND ASSISTANCE Agricultural Support Services The Department promotes the return of fallow land not earmarked for development to cultivation by helping farmers arrange land tenancy, improving soil conditions, and providing marketing facilities and farm road access. During 2007-08, about 1 hectare of such rehabilitated agricultural land was serviced. The Department responded to 4 862 technical inquiries related to agricultural production or development and conducted 321 field investigations in connection with irrigation and other agricultural matters. Agricultural Credit The Department operates the Kadoorie Agricultural Aid Loan Fund, the J.E. Joseph Trust Fund and the Vegetable Marketing Organisation Loan Fund to meet farmers' credit needs. A total of $4.845 million was lent to farmers during 2007-08, including 55 loans ($2.975 million) to crop farmers and 22 loans ($1.87 million) to livestock farmers. A total of $2.744 million was lent to fish farmers, including 11 loans ($0.775 million) to pond fish farmers and 20 loans ($1.969 million) to mariculturalists. Emergency Relief Operations Emergency relief grants are issued to needy farmers who suffer from natural disasters. Grants totalling $1.98 million were distributed to 778 farmers during 2007-08.
FRESH FOOD WHOLESALE MARKETS The Department manages four government wholesale food markets, providing some 2 600 trading stalls and related ancillary facilities. Altogether, these markets provide some 37.6% of the fresh food items (vegetables, freshwater fish, eggs, fruits and live poultry) consumed by the community. Appendix 14 gives details of the market throughput in these wholesale markets.
VEGETABLE MARKETING ORGANISATION The Vegetable Marketing Organisation (VMO) is set up under the Agricultural Products (Marketing) Ordinance, Cap. 277 as a non-profit making concern to provide facilities and services for the orderly and efficient marketing of vegetables. The organisation charges wholesalers a commission of up to 10% of the total value of sales for providing trading facilities, accounting and pesticide residue testing services. Its surpluses are used to support agricultural programmes and development projects. The VMO Loan Fund provides credit assistance to farmers, and the Agricultural Products Scholarship Fund promotes education and training in agriculture.
LIVESTOCK FARM LICENSING Since the implementation of the Livestock Waste Control Scheme in 1994, all livestock farms must hold a Livestock Keeping Licence (LKL) for the keeping of livestock. In order to obtain an LKL, the farmer must install appropriate waste treatment facilities that meet minimum discharge standards. An LKL also contains provisions relating to the protection of public health and includes conditions relating to the control and prevention of animal diseases, such as avian influenza. All licensed livestock farms are inspected regularly, particularly those suspected of discharging waste illegally or where waste treatment practices have caused a nuisance to surrounding communities. Action is also taken against illegal livestock keeping. With the rapid urbanisation of the New Territories, pig farming has brought about public health and pollution concerns. To encourage pig farmers to give up their business, a one-year voluntary scheme was implemented in June, 2006 for those who opted to surrender their LKL and cease business permanently in exchange for the grant of an ex-gratia payment. The scheme ended in May, 2007, and 222 out of the original 265 pig farms participated in the scheme. |