The Agriculture and Fisheries Department (AFD) worked on policy formulation, research and land extension services for the benefit of agriculture. Complementing the department’s work, KAAA focused its efforts on improving farming techniques for villagers, through the distribution of planting equipment, pest control, fertilisers, and fruit trees.

Over 70% of agricultural land were paddy fields in the early 1950s. The AFD worked on improving rice yield by selecting good quality local rice and experimenting with imported rice. KAAA purchased government seeds and supplied them as a gift to the farmers.

The Government provided education to farmers through roving movie shows and RTHK radio programme “Farmer’s Week”.

AFD research laboratories at Castle Peak, Tai Lung, Sheung Shui, Sai Kung and Ta Ku Ling carried out wide-ranging investigations on issues affecting crop production such as soil fertility, water supply, plant pest and disease control.

Sprayer Plan (1959)

KAAA supplied a total of 12,000 insecticide sprayers to organised farming units and village communities, helping vegetable farmers combat pests without having to resort to unscrupulous salesmen practices. KAAA also demonstrated proper pest control practices to farmers.

Village Orchard Plan (1955)

In 1955, KAAA embarked on a plan to develop orchards throughout the countryside, with the hope of diversifying village economies and utilising land unsuited to growing other crops. Working in collaboration with village communities, KAAA donated a total of 80 orchards.

The Orchard Plan did not turn out to be as successful as it should have been. Many villagers gave up due to orchard ownership disputes, the lack of skills or impatience. The plan was later modified to focus on experienced individual farmers. This proved to be more successful.

Irrigation enhancements (1965)

KAAA donated sprinklers, water pumps and galvanised iron pipes to the vegetable farmers. The mechanisation of agriculture was of great benefit to the farmers. Labour saving devices conserved water and lowered production costs.

Threshers

Despite KAAA’s effort to introduce mechanical rice threshers from Japan in 1955, most farmers preferred the traditional method of rice threshing, and so only 220 threshers were distributed.