In today’s talking points: Reform guidelines released to combat structural problems in China’s agriculture, Australian agriculture businesses are predominantly fully locally owned, Hong Kong suspends raw oyster imports from Tasmania in wake of paralytic shellfish poisoning detection, Mobile technology revolutionizing irrigation
Reform guidelines released to combat structural problems in China’s agriculture
China’s State Council has released a guideline to accelerate supply-side structural reform by 2020 in agriculture. The reform advocates for better quality and efficiency in agriculture, resulting in improved incomes and quality. The aim is to adopt a modern system for the grain industry and raise high quality grain by 10 percent. For the reform to succeed the Council stressed the need for more fiscal, tax and financing support as well as favourable policies in land and power to facilitate industry development.
Read more at: Xinhua Net
Australian agriculture businesses are predominantly fully locally owned
Recent Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) reports found just over 0.5 percent of agriculture businesses in Australia have some level of foreign ownership. With results unchanged in the past three years, this further emphasizes fears over foreign ownership in the agriculture industry. The Northern Territory had the highest rate of foreign ownership at 6.9 percent and large businesses account for the majority of foreign owned farmland.
Read more at: Xinhua Net
Hong Kong suspends raw oyster imports from Tasmania in wake of paralytic shellfish poisoning detection
Hong Kong has halted raw oyster and shellfish imports from Tasmania after Australian authorities found paralytic shellfish poisoning toxin in an area. Hong Kong’s Center for Food Safety (CFS) announced at the weekend that it would suspend imports and sales immediately. A spokesman said Australian authorities notified the department that raw oysters harvested in Blackman Bay Lease 44 in Tasmania had been detected with paralytic shellfish poisoning. Oysters that were collected from the area between September 12 and 22 are being recalled, Global Times reports. “For the sake of prudence, the CFS has immediately suspended the import into and sale within Hong Kong of all raw oysters and shellfish harvested in the area,” the spokesman said.
Mobile technology revolutionizing irrigation
Farmers in China’s far west are saving water – and boosting their income – by managing irrigation through mobile technology. Yu Changde told China Daily that only a few years ago his entire family had to use spades to monitor the irrigation process – now they use a mobile app instead. The system uses less water, which, in turn, means higher income for farmers, he explained. According to the water resource authority, harnessing this technology has raised farmer’s incomes by 4,500 yuan per hectare, China Daily reports. Yu’s farm lies in Xinjiang, which boasts the biggest section of water-saving irrigation of all the rural regions.