- Agriculture and aquaculture in Hong Kong
Agriculture and Aquaculture in Hong Kong are considered sunset industries. Most agricultural produce is directly imported from the neighbouring
mainland China . In 2006 the industry accounts for less than 0.3% of the labor sector. [Hong Kong census. " [http://www.censtatd.gov.hk/FileManager/EN/Content_800/labour.pdf Census labour data pdf] ." "Labour." Retrieved on2007-03-14 .] Geographically Hong Kong consists largely of steep, unproductive hillside. The local aquaculture industry is also facing challenges from competition with imported aquatic food products and concern of fish and seafood safety.Hong Kong Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department. " [http://www.afcd.gov.hk/english/fisheries/fish_aqu/fish_aqu_good/fish_aqu_good.html Fish Aqu] ." "Fishing Aquaculture." Retrieved on2007-04-03 .]History
In the
Colonial Hong Kong era around 1850s, agriculture in Hong Kong consisted mostly of revenue farms that focused onopium productions. The industry led to many wealthy Chinese businessmen, who established themselves as the middlemen merchants with international connection. Some of the successful farmers included Yan Wo Hong and Wo Hang Hong from 1858 to 1887. [Ngo, Tak-Wing. [1999] (1999). Hong Kong's History: State and Society Under Colonial Rule. United Kingdom: Routledge. ISBN 0415203058.] The system was discontinued by colonial authorities, when the economy needed to diversify in other activities. The last opium farm ended in 1913. [Dahles, Heidi. Muijzenber, Otto van den. [2003] (2003) Capital and Knowledge in Asia: Changing Power Relations. Routledge. ISBN 0415304172.] One of the farm founded in the era include Hong Kong Dairy Farm in 1886. AsHong Kong government favor the transition into a secondary sector, and eventually a tertiary sector, agriculture became a reduced segment.Organic Farming was introduced in 1988.Hong Kong Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department. " [http://www.afcd.gov.hk/english/agriculture/agr_orgfarm/agr_orgfarm.html Organic Farming] ." "Organic Farming in Hong Kong." Retrieved on2007-03-20 .] An Accredited Farm Scheme for protecting the environment and consumers against residues of agriculturalpesticide s was introduced in 1994. Accredited farms strictly monitor and supervise the uses of pesticides, and produce are further analyzed for chemical remnants before they are sold at accredited retail outlets. In 1994 the agriculture and fisheries industry represented 2.7% of the work force and just a mere 0.2% of the total GDP.Genzberger. Christine A. [1994] (1994). Hong Kong Business: The Portable Encyclopedia for Doing Business with Hong Kong. World Trade Press. ISBN 0963186477.]Consumption
Statistically, Hong Kong can only produce enough for 20% of the local population without depending on mainland imports. In the mid-1990s, 50% of Hong Kong's water resources were still purchased from the mainland. Hong Kong have always depended heavily on imports. The dependency on imports has increased steadily, since the ratio of population growth far exceed agricultural production numbers. In 2007, Hong Kong’s population of almost 7 million [HK Census. " [http://www.censtatd.gov.hk/hong_kong_statistics/statistical_tables/index.jsp?htmlTableID=139&excelID=&chartID=&tableID=002 HK Census] ." "Statistical Table of population." Retrieved on
2007-03-16 .] consumed the following.Resources
Agriculture
In 2006 there are 2,100 farms in the territory, employing directly about 5,300 farmers and workers.Hong Kong Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department. " [http://www.afcd.gov.hk/english/agriculture/agr_hk/agr_hk.html HK gov] ." "Agriculture in HK." Retrieved on
2007-03-20 .] By the end of 2005, the land used for vegetable, flower, field crop, andorchard are 330 ha, 190 ha, 30 ha, and 290 ha respectively.Fishing
Hong Kong’s fishing activities are conducted mainly in the waters of the adjacent continental shelf in the South and
East China Sea s. They extend over a 160kilometre wide section of this shelf between theGulf of Tonkin and the East China Sea. The majority of thefishing vessel s are manned by family members with the assistance of hired crew. Main fishing methods includetrawling ,long-lining , gill-netting and purse-seining with the majority of the total catch obtained through trawling.Hong Kong Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department. " [http://www.afcd.gov.hk/english/fisheries/fish_cap/fish_cap_latest/fish_cap_latest.html HK gov] ." "Fisheries latest." Retrieved on2007-04-03 .] The industry now consists of some 4,150fishing vessel s and some 9,200fishermen working abroad and provides employment in ancillary sectors servicing the fishing industry, such as fish wholesale and retail marketing, fuel and fishing gear supply and ice manufacturingLocal production
Agriculture industry produced HK$1,180 million worth of produce in 2005. It comprises HK$264 million of crop production, HK$554 million of livestock production and KH$360 million of poultry production. The average daily production of vegetable, live chicken and live pigs are 67 tonnes, 32,000 birds and 1,030 heads respectively. In 2005, local production accounted for 4% of fresh vegetables, 52% of live poultry and 18% of live pigs consumed in the territory.
Aquaculture includes marine fish culture, pond fish culture and oyster culture. In 2005 production from the aquaculture sector was 3,725 tonnes valued at HK$120 million which was 2.2 per cent in weight and 6.7 per cent in value of the total fisheries production.Hong Kong Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department. " [http://www.afcd.gov.hk/english/fisheries/fish_aqu/fish_aqu_mpo/fish_aqu_mpo.html HK gov] ." "Fisheries mpo." Retrieved on
2007-04-03 .]Principal crops
The value of crop production amounted to $272 million in 2003.
Vegetable andflower production account for about 97 % of the total value, being $264 million in 2003. Vegetable crops grown all year round include whitecabbage , flowering cabbage,lettuce ,Chinese kale ,radish , leaf mustard,spring onion andchive .Spinach ,watercress , andmatrimony vine are produced in the cooler months.Yardlong bean s,water spinach ,amaranth ,cucumber , and several species of Chinesegourd are produced in summer. A wide range of temperate vegetables includingtomato ,sweet pepper ,cauliflower ,carrot , andcelery are grown inwinter .Flower cultivation has gained importance in recent years.
Gladiolus ,lily , andchrysanthemum are grown in winter; andginger lily and lotus flower in summer.Peach blossom is grown especially for the Lunar New Year. A wide range of fruit is grown on the lower hill slopes, the main types beinglychee ,longan ,wampei , locallemon , orange,tangerine ,guava ,papaya andbanana .Animal husbandry
There were 281 local pig farms and 205 local poultry farms in 2004. During 2003, local pig production was valued at $527 million and local poultry production, including
pigeons and eggs was valued at $250 million. Pigs raised on local farms are crosses derived from Duroc,Landrace and Large White parent stock. The majority of localchicken s raised on farms are Shek Ki cross bred chickens. Recently, brand name chickens like Ka Mei chickens and Tai On chickens have been introduced to local market by local investors. There are two dairies in active operation with a total herd population of less than 50 cows.Aquaculture and Fishing
The commercially important marine species are
bigeye ,golden thread ,croaker ,horse-head andpomfret . The total capture fisheries and marine fish culture production is equivalent to about 31% ofseafood consumed in Hong Kong, while pond fish farmers produce about 6% of thefreshwater fish eaten. The majority of fish farms inNew Territories are engaged incarp polyculture (bighead carp, silver carp, common carp andgrass carp ) in combination withtilapia or grey mullet as the major species. Other cultured species includeseabreams andspotted scat . At present there are 26 fish culture zones designated under the "Marine Fish Culture Ordinance". Common species cultured include greengrouper , brownspotted grouper, Russell’ssnapper , mangrove snapper,cobia andpampano . The voluntary "Accredited Fish Farm Scheme" has been launched to assist local fish farmers.Agricultural development
The
Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) and its closely related marketing organisations provide infrastructural support and technical services to the variousprimary industries . The department’s crop specialists undertake studies into practical problems in pest control, crop husbandry and soil management. They also investigate specific production technologies to enhance the efficiency and economic benefits of the industry. This work is carried out in an experimental station inSheung Shui and results are made available to farmers by the department’s advisory service.Agricultural advisory activities are aimed at assisting farmers to improve productivity through the introduction of new and improved produce varieties and production techniques, backed up by adequate credit facilities and efficient and orderly marketing services. Studies are currently under way to adapt and develop greenhouse and organic production technology for local farms. Examples of well-received new produce varieties are: supersweet
maize , heat tolerant lettuce, colouredsweet pepper ,spaghetti squash ,strawberry and white bitter cucumber.Loans issued to farmers in 2003 amounted to $19 million and the total value of loans issued up to December 31, 2003 (under three separate loan funds administered by AFCD) was $505 million. These loans are granted to cover farm production and development purposes.
References
ee also
*
Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department
*Kadoorie Farm and Botanic Garden
*Agriculture
*Hakka
*Punti External links
* [http://www.afcd.gov.hk/eindex.html Hong Kong Agriculture and Fisheries Conservation Department]
* [http://www.hkaffs.org/tc/index.html AFCD Accredited Fish Farm Scheme]
* [http://www.fmo.org.hk/ Hong Kong Fish Marketing Organization]
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