The Chief Executive unveiled a major boost to agriculture sector. Photo: RTHK
A demonstration on organic farming at Lei Yue Mun Park and Holiday Village. Photo: Courtesy of ISD
Cho Kai-kai speaks to RTHK's Richard Pyne
The Chief Executive has announced setting up of a HK$500 million Sustainable Agriculture Development Fund, to provide better support and assistance to local farmers in his policy address on Wednesday.
He said this will be used to help farmers with marketing and brand building, and help develop farming-related leisure and educational activities.
Leung said the value of agriculture goes beyond its economic contribution. He said developing local agriculture increases choices of origin of food, optimises land use, improves the environment and hygiene in rural areas, and conserves the natural ecology.
There are about 4,000 hectares of agricultural land in the New Territories, but only about 15 percent is actively farmed. Leung said the government would optimise the use of agricultural land through planning and land management.
The plans however were met with scepticism by local farmers. Cho Kai-kai, from the Mapopo Community Farm, said plans for an Agricultural Park would only protect about 80 hectares of farmland.
On the fund, Cho said the government wanted to develop techniques like hydroponics, which aren’t widely used by local farmers. She said it was good to address the importance of local agriculture, but the proposals wouldn’t contribute to its sustainable development.
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Last updated: 2016-01-13 HKT 12:11
http://news.rthk.hk/rthk/en/component/k2/1235339-20160113.htm
