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 labour sector. 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.
Fish Aqu
." ''Fishing Aquaculture.'' Retrieved on 3 April 2007.

History

In the Colonial Hong Kong era around the 1850s, agriculture in Hong Kong consisted mostly of revenue farms that focused on opium 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. The system was discontinued by colonial authorities, when the economy needed to diversify in other activities. The last opium farm ended in 1913. One of the farms founded in the era was Hong Kong Dairy Farm in 1886. As Hong Kong government favour 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.
Organic Farming
." ''Organic Farming in Hong Kong.'' Retrieved on 20 March 2007. An Accredited Farm Scheme for protecting the environment and consumers against residues of agricultural pesticides was introduced in 1994. Accredited farms strictly monitor and supervise the uses of pesticides, and produce are further analysed 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. 994(1994). Hong Kong Business: The Portable Encyclopedia for Doing Business with Hong Kong. World Trade Press. .

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 has 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 daily consumed the following.

In 2012, Hong Kong's population of more than 7.1 millionPopulation
Hong Kong Facts
" ''Population.'' Retrieved on 23 February 2014. daily consumed:

Resources

Agriculture

In 2006, there were 2,100 farms in the territory, employing directly about 5,300 farmers and workers.Hong Kong Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department.

." ''Agriculture in HK.'' Retrieved on 20 March 2007. By the end of 2005, the land used for vegetable, flower, field crop, and orchard are 330 ha, 190 ha, 30 ha, and 290 ha respectively. A fact sheet published in 2014 estimates that only 7 square kilometres of land in Hong Kong are actively farmed.Agriculture and Fisheries.
Hong Kong Facts
" ''Agriculture and Fisheries.'' Retrieved on 23 February 2014.

Fishing

Hong Kong's fishing activities are conducted mainly in the waters of the adjacent continental shelf in the South and East China Seas. They extend over a 160 kilometre wide section of this shelf between the Gulf of Tonkin and the East China Sea. The majority of the fishing vessels are manned by family members with the assistance of hired crew. Main fishing methods include trawling, long-lining, gill-netting and purse-seining with the majority of the total catch obtained through trawling.Hong Kong Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department.
HK gov
." ''Fisheries latest.'' Retrieved on 3 April 2007. The industry now consists of some 4,150 fishing vessels and some 9,200 fishermen 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 manufacturing

Fish farming

There are 26 designated marine fish culture zones in Hong Kong. Fishermen required to obtain license to operate fish farms inside those zones. The 26 fish culture zones are:

* Sha Tau Kok Hoi
* Ap Chau
* Kat O
* O Pui Tong
* Sai Lau Kong
* Wong Wan
* Tap Mun
* Kau Lau Wan
* Sham Wan
* Lo Fu Wat
* Yung Shue O
* Leung Shuen Wan
* Tiu Cham Wan
* Tai Tau Chau
* Kai Lung Wan
* Kau Sai
* Ma Nam Wat
* Po Toi O
* Po Toi
* Sok Kwu Wan
* Lo Tik Wan
* Ma Wan
* Yim Tin Tsai
* eastern Yim Tin Tsai, Tai Po District
* Cheung Sha Wan, Lantau Island
* Tung Lung Chau

Some of the fish rafts had converted to recreation use. They are located in 11 out of 26 fish culture zones listed above.

The production from the aquaculture sector has evolved over time: 563 tonnes in 1977, 3,000 tonnes in 1989, 3,284 tonnes in 2019.

Local 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. In 2012, the gross value of local agricultural production totalled $766 million. 1.9 per cent of the vegetables Hong Kong people consumed, together with 60 per cent of the live poultry and 7 per cent of the live pigs, come from local farms.

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.
HK gov
." ''Fisheries mpo.'' Retrieved on 3 April 2007. Data collected in 2012 shows the total amount of land occupied for Fish ponds total 1,130 hectares and are mainly located in north-western New Territories. About 990 licensees units are engaged in marine fish culture. Common species cultured include green grouper, brown-spotted grouper, Russell's snapper, mangrove snapper, cobia and pompano. Total marine fish culture production in 2012 amounted to 1 299 tonnes, valued at $117 million.

Principal crops

The value of crop production amounted to $272 million in 2003. Vegetable and flower production account for about 97% of the total value, being $264 million in 2003. Vegetable crops grown all year round include white cabbage, flowering cabbage, lettuce, Chinese kale, radish, leaf mustard, spring onion and chive. Spinach, watercress, and matrimony vine are produced in the cooler months. Yardlong beans, water spinach, amaranth, cucumber, and several species of Chinese gourd are produced in summer. A wide range of temperate vegetables including tomato, sweet pepper, cauliflower, carrot, and celery are grown in winter.

Flower cultivation has gained importance in recent years. Gladiolus, lily, and chrysanthemum are grown in winter; and ginger lily