Dutch Farmers to visit MIHAS expo

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.