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A delegation of local farmers will leave for Malaysia on May 4 on a six-day visit to learn more about the advanced technology and food quality assurance system of Malaysia's agricultural sector and exchange experience with their counterparts.
The 23-member group comprises representatives from the Vegetable Marketing Organisation, local farmers' co-operative societies and vegetable wholesale merchant associations. They will visit Malaysia's wholesale and retail markets, organic and conventional farms, agriculture research and experiment station as well as the 5th Malaysia International Halal Showcase.
Acting Director of Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation, Mr Lau Sin-pang, today (April 25) presented a banner to the representatives of the delegation as well as the Malaysia External Trade Development Corporation for their assistance in arranging the visits.
Blessed with abundant natural resources and excellent natural conditions, the agricultural industry in Malaysia is highly diversified, with strong emphasis on agricultural research, development and application.
A spokesman for the delegation said the itinerary would include a visit to the Cameron Highlands, the so-called "Green Bowl" of Malaysia, in which vegetable and fruit farms, self-pick strawberry farms, tea farms and tea factories are established over the valleys.
To gain knowledge and experience of developing local agro-tourism, the delegation will also visit an agro-technology park which houses more than 100 species of citrus fruits, 50 species of herbs, 40 species of roses and more than 30 species of greenhouse vegetables and ornamental flowers.
Densely populated with limited land, Hong Kong relies heavily on imported agricultural products. Nevertheless, there are still around 1,000 hectares of farm land, and locally produced vegetables are very popular.
During the past few years, study tours were arranged for local farmers to various countries to enhance local technological know-how and broaden their horizons. Farmers visited Japan in 2004 to study the operation of Japanese farm markets and subsequently set up a similar organic market in Tai Po, which has proved successful and helped the development of local organic cultivation. In a study tour to Korea in 2006, farmers learnt from the experiences of Korea's agricultural sector with a view to improving sales of local agricultural products.
Ends/Friday, April 25, 2008
Issued at HKT 18:40
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