fisheries products
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At the request of legislator Ms Chan Yuen-han, the Permanent Secretary for Health, Welfare and Food, Mrs Carrie Yau, held a meeting this (September 14) afternoon to discuss ways to assist local food industry in promoting quality products.
At present, local food supply is mainly imported from the Mainland and overseas countries.
A spokesman for the Health, Welfare and Food Bureau noted Hong Kong has been constrained by shortage of land and a high-density population, there were certain limitations on the development of local agricultural and fisheries industry; for example, locally produced vegetables only accounted for four per cent of market share.
"Though there are limitation to our agricultural and fisheries industry, the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) is still committed to providing assistance to local farmers with a view to fostering the industry's high-value and sustainable development," the spokesman said.
To encourage local farmers to develop high-value organic farming, AFCD has launched the Organic Farming Support Service to provide farmers who intend to switch to organic farming with infrastructural and technical support services and low-interest loans. At present, about 50 local vegetable farms have joined organic farming. Their products are distributed through over 60 retail outlets marketing organic vegetables.
As the demand for organic vegetables far outweighs the supply, the Government plans to continue rendering encouragement and support to organic farming.
In 2002, the Government granted HK$3.9 million to the Hong Kong Baptist University, Produce Green Foundation and Hong Kong Organic Farming Association via Vegetable Marketing Organisation (VMO) Agricultural Development Fund to set up an organic resource centre.
The centre started to provide organic certification service and promote organic trademark early this year. Hong Kong has developed a standard and a certification system to facilitate the future development of the local organic produce market.
On local fish farming, the AFCD has cultivated new species of market value and provide technical support to local fish farmers in improving their production process, fish disease control and culturing new fish species. Besides, the department also provides early warning on harmful algal blooms to fish farmers to help reduce risk of biotoxin contamination and fish loss.
Recently, the AFCD has launched "Accredited Fish Farm Scheme" to assist fish farmers to enhance the competitiveness of their local aquaculture products as well as to develop and promote local brand names for quality fish in particular grey mullets and giant groupers.
In addition, the department also assists local farmers in marketing their products through the VMO and Fish Marketing Organisation.
Ends/Wednesday, September 14, 2005
Issued at HKT 19:39
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