Replies to LegCo questions
LCQ12: Development of local agriculture
Following is a question by the Hon Chan Yuen-han and a written reply by the
Secretary for Food and Health, Dr Ko Wing-man, in the Legislative Council today
(October 29):
Question:
The Chief Executive indicated in the 2014 Policy Address that the Government
would review its agricultural policy to enhance productivity and promote
sustainable development, and would carry out consultation within this year.
Regarding the development of the agriculture industry in Hong Kong, will the
Government inform this Council:
(1) of the progress and details of the aforesaid review; when the authorities
will commence the consultation exercise and of the details of the exercise;
(2) of (i) the total area of agricultural land, (ii) the area of active
agricultural land, (iii) the area of agricultural land left derelict, and (iv)
the respective areas of agricultural land used for producing vegetables,
flowers, field crops and orchards in Hong Kong each year from 2010 to the end of
September this year (set out in the Annex 1);
(3) whether many pieces of agricultural land are left derelict at present; if
so, whether it has studied if the situation is attributable to the hoarding of
agricultural land by developers for future development, and whether there are
measures in place to address the problem of agricultural land being left
derelict;
(4) of (i) the output and (ii) the total value (thousand dollars) of crops
produced each year from 2010 to the end of September this year, together with a
breakdown by kind of crops (flower, fruit, vegetable and field crop) set out in
Annex 2;
(5) of (i) the number of farms engaged in farming activities, (ii) the number of
organic farms among them, and (iii) the number of farmers involved each year
from 2012 to the end of September this year (set out in Annex 3);
(6) of the respective market shares of locally produced vegetables and fruits
each year from 2012 to the end of September this year (set out in Annex 4);
whether the authorities have put in place measures to increase the production of
local vegetables and fruits and to set self-sufficiency targets for such crops;
if there are such measures, of the details, and whether they have assessed the
effectiveness of such measures; if there are no such measures, the reasons for
that; and
(7) of the respective numbers of applications for leasing agricultural land
under the Agricultural Land Rehabilitation Scheme (the Scheme) received and
approved by the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department from January
to September this year, the area of agricultural land leased out through the
Scheme and the average waiting time for such applicants, as well as the current
number of applications for leasing agricultural land on the waiting list;
whether the authorities will implement any measures to shorten the average
waiting time; if they will, of the details; if not, the reasons for that?
Reply:
President,
(1) The Government is reviewing the existing agricultural policy with a view to
enhancing productivity and promoting sustainable development. This will include
introducing modern and environment-friendly agricultural technologies that help
conserve our natural resources and the agricultural ecology, so as to supply
good quality local agricultural products to members of the public whilst at the
same time promoting the diversified development of the rural areas. The
Government plans to consult the public on the revised policy by the end of this
year.
(2) The Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) conducts
on-site surveys at local farms regularly to collect information about the area
of agricultural land under active farming and crop varieties. At the beginning
of each year, AFCD compiles statistics for the preceding year after it has
consolidated and analysed the information collected. Statistics for the period
from January to September 2014 are therefore not yet available (the same applies
to parts (4) to (6) of the reply below). Details about (i) the total area of
agricultural land; (ii) the area of agricultural land under active farming;
(iii) the area of fallow agricultural land; and (iv) the area of agricultural
land used for growing vegetables, flowers, field crops and orchards in Hong Kong
from 2010 to 2013 are set out in Annex 5.
(3) According to the information provided by the Planning Department, nearly 70%
of the land zoned as "Agriculture" is privately owned. In most cases, private
agricultural land in Hong Kong was granted under Block Government Leases in
early years. Generally speaking, these leases do not impose any requirement to
the effect that the owners have to put the land to use and should not leave the
land idle. It is for the landowners to decide whether or not to use their land
for agricultural production. The Development Bureau also notices that there have
all along been rental activities involving private agricultural land. Whether a
piece of private agricultural land will be used for farming is dependent on
whether the landowner prefers to rent out the land for non-agricultural
purposes. Relevant considerations include farming demand, geographical
environment, and rental level, etc. There is currently no evidence to show that
reserving the agricultural land for development is a main consideration of the
landlords in deciding to leave the agricultural land fallow.
(4) Based on the data collected by AFCD from 2010 to 2013, we set out in Annex 6
(i) the output; and (ii) the total value of crops produced, broken down by kind
of crops (flower, fruit, vegetable and field crop).
(5) Based on the data collected by AFCD in 2012 and 2013, we set out in Annex 7
(i) the number of farms engaged in farming activities; (ii) the number of
organic farms among them; and (iii) the number of farmers involved.
(6) According to the statistics collected by AFCD in 2012 and 2013, the
respective market share of locally produced vegetables and fruits are set out in
Annex 8.
Through the provision of basic infrastructure, technical support and
low-interest loans to farmers, AFCD has been facilitating the further
development of local agriculture, enhancing the productivity and business
viability of the industry, thereby helping the farmers to produce good quality
and high-value agricultural products that are safe for consumption. For example,
AFCD actively encourages and supports local farmers to develop organic farming.
Through the Organic Farming Support Service, AFCD provides technical advice and
support for those farmers who wish to switch to organic farming from traditional
farming. It also promotes the production and sale of local organic agricultural
products jointly with the Vegetable Marketing Organisation (VMO) and the
Federation of Vegetable Marketing Co-operative Societies, Ltd. Currently, 244
farms participate in the Organic Farming Support Service, producing about 5.5
tonnes of organic agricultural products each day for the local market. At
present, there are more than 37 organic vegetable retail outlets under the VMO
marketing network, including large supermarkets, shops in MTR stations, health
food stores and the Lions Nature Education Centre outlet at Tsiu Hang, Sai Kung.
Besides, AFCD supports the Hong Kong Organic Resource Centre in its endeavours
to educate the public on organic farming and promote the certification of
organic products.
AFCD also organises from time to time talks and on-farm demonstrations for
farmers, briefing them on improved varieties of agricultural products and new
farming techniques. Quality produce developed in recent years includes red flesh
rock melon, seedless water melon, yellow flesh water melon, long horn pepper,
round eggplant, potato and organic strawberry.
The Government has also been actively assisting the industry in developing
quality brand names. At present, 263 vegetable farms in the territory have
participated in the Accredited Farm Scheme. AFCD helps the industry set up
weekend farmers' markets and organises large-scale carnivals, such as the annual
FarmFest which attracts over 100 participating local farmers and fishermen and
more than 100 000 visitors every year. These events have helped showcase local
agricultural and fishery products to the wider public and promote local brand
names.
In keeping with the free-market principle, the Government does not set any
targets for local agricultural production. Nor does it provide any direct
financial subsidy to the industry or protect the price level of local
agricultural products. The Government will continue to support the sustainable
development of local agriculture through the provision of technical support and
low-interest loans.
(7) AFCD has implemented the Land Rehabilitation Scheme to assist farmers and
those who wish to engage in farming to identify suitable agricultural land for
cultivation. Under this scheme, AFCD plays a bridging role by matching
landowners with prospective tenants who intend to rent agricultural land and
facilitates their entering into tenancy agreements. AFCD also provides services
such as technical support and low-interest loans when rehabilitation begins,
with a view to encouraging gainful utilisation of fallow agricultural land. From
January to September this year, the AFCD received 24 applications for renting
agricultural land under the Land Rehabilitation Scheme. During the same period,
five applications were successfully matched, involving approximately 0.6 hectare
of agricultural land. Since only a limited number of landowners are willing to
rent out their agricultural land for agricultural activities, applicants usually
have to wait quite a long time before they are successfully matched with
landowners. At present, the average waiting time for each case is about five
years. There are 272 cases on the waiting list.
Ends/Wednesday, October 29, 2014
Issued at HKT 18:10
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LCQ12 Annex