ORGANIC OPPORTUNITY
By embracing organic farming as a form of sustainable agriculture, Steven Leong (The Bottom Line, January 2001) is setting an example for all Asian farmers. At a time when farmers are being pushed to boost production and squeeze profits, organic farming not only provides farmers with a sustainable form of agriculture, but also an opportunity to maximise sales and raise margins by targeting export markets.
Ten years ago, organic farming was also a niche market in the developed countries of the world. In countries like the United Kingdom, Germany, and the United States, it was confined to environmentalists and farming enthusiasts.
Heightening environmental concerns and the proliferation of food scares in these countries has pushed organic food into the mainstream such that farmers have converted in droves. Organic food is deemed to be safer than conventional food as it contains no chemical pesticides and only uses natural fertilisers.
Once labelled as unconventional and considered a niche market, organic food now represents 20% of most fresh food sales in Denmark.
In the UK, the market is growing 70-90% each year with one major supermarket selling only organic fruit and vegetables.
The German government has recently announced that it plans to have 10% of all its national farms certified organic by 2006, and the Swedish agricultural minister is to push for more organic conversion during his presidency of the EU in the next six months. What does this all mean to Asian farmers?
The highest growth in the organic food market is today in the UK. The market has grown 10-fold in the past decade and is expected to exceed US$1.5 billion in 2001, according to market estimates. However, demand far outstrips supply with 70% of all organic produce being imported. Supplies far outweigh demand in many of these countries, and there lies an opportunity for Asian producers and exporters.
Countries like New Zealand are riding the wave and are boosting organic food production. It reported an increase in 77% of organic food exports in 2000, with a similar increase projected in 2001.
Asian farmers and producers should possibly take the example of Steven Leong and embrace organic farming to tap the potential of this emerging market, and while they are at it, help the environment too.
Amarjit Sahota MSc - www.organicmonitor.com
LIVING IN THE PAST
While reading your article "Bridging the Digital Divide" (Trends, January 2001), I was very surprised that you used a 10-year-old photograph to prove your point! And your second photograph makes me wonder if we can still buy 5 1/4-inch discs in China?
Wee Soon Huat - Melaka, Malaysia.
Who's lagging behind?
While the subject of your article (Digital Divide, Trends, January 2001) certainly has valid a premise, was it necessary to further "dumb" the Philippines with a photo of a classroom in Negros apparently taken on Tuesday, October 28, 1991? Or is it worse than we thought - the calendar has not been changed since 1991! To top it off, the caption is "Lagging Behind".
LEE DEL PAN - The Philippines
GIVE LEUNG A GO
I found it disappointing that on the day of banker Antony Leung Kam-chung's appointment as Hong Kong's new Financial Secretary, the unions were already complaining about him. This is unfair. They should wait to see how he performs. They may be pleasantly surprised.
MIDAS TSE - Hong Kong