The Changing Face of Rural Landscape

Introduction

• Area of farmland• = people involved in

agriculture decrease

• = People now involved in agriculture: facing different kinds of

PROBLEMS

What problems do you think the farmers in Pak

Kong?

Can you list out any solution?

Introduction

• Problems:• 1. Competition from

Mainland China• 2. High cost of

production• 3. Rural-urban

migration (labour shortage)

PROBLEMS facing by present farmers1. Competition from Mainland China

• Mainland China:

- low production cost

- cheap labour

- large % of people

involved in farming

- larger farmland

- better quality

- wide varieties

• Hong Kong - high cost of production - expensive labour - many people involved in tertiary industry shortage of labour - small area of farmland - low quality - narrow range of varieties

Solution

• High value product (e.g. market gardening)

• Better quality species

• Orchards

• Government Assistance

Orchards (high value species)

Market Gardening

PROBLEMS facing by present farmers2. High Cost of Production

• Preparation for the land

- abandon land farmland

• Machinery

• Pesticides

• Fertilizers

• High Transport Cost

• Irrigation

-- water pump, water pipe

• No subsides from the government

Mr. Leung’s lychee orchard

Solution

• Import seed & machinery from the Mainland

lower cost

• Perennial plants

(decrease the frequency of harvesting)

• Change of operation method

(buy the mature plants from the Mainland)

Perennial Plants - Lychee

PROBLEMS facing by present farmers3. Rural-Urban Migration

(Labour Shortage)• PULL FACTOR:• More job opportunities

in urban • Higher income• Development of urban

area better living conditions in urban

(e.g. efficient transport network) (e.g. better infrastructure) (e.g. social facilities)

• PUSH FACTOR:• Less job opportunities

in rural• Hard working conditions• Lower and unstable

income• Less development of the

rural area

Conclusion

• Present farmers are facing lots of difficulties and problems

• if they still use the old method of operation Hard to earn money

• They should try new operation method : e.g. lychee orchards e.g. ‘leisure’ farming