Can Hong Kong cultivate its agriculture, fisheries sectors? Experts say more policy support needed to tend to neglected farming scene
- Agriculture and fisheries blueprint outlines ambitious plans, but farming still viewed as a sunset industry
- Small number of young people drawn to agriculture courses at three universities offer hope for the future
From his floating farm off the coast of Hong Kong’s Sai Kung peninsula, Alex Lam Tsz-fung produces 200,000 fish each year for the city’s dining tables.
Experimenting with ways to reduce bacteria and increase the oxygen level in the water, he increased the survival rate of his fish fry. Mixing traditional Chinese herbs into the feed also helped boost their immune system.
His 20,000 sq ft farm, Hong Kong Aquaculture, produces five types of fish popular with residents – cobia, sea bass, pompano, spinefoot and batfish.
Lam, 48, said his goal was to produce nutritious, locally grown fish at affordable prices, pledging to keep the cost of a frozen pompano at about HK$50 (US$6.39).
His fish farm is one of 100 the Hong Kong government aims to work with to increase the supply of fresh fish by 10 times to 6,000 tonnes in the next 15 years.
That target was set by the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) last December when it unveiled Hong Kong’s first detailed plan outlining goals to develop and diversify the city’s agriculture and fishery industries and increase the output of food.