REPORT TITLE:
Agricultural Research


DESCRIPTION:
Appropriates funds for agricultural research and development to
be performed by the Hawaii Agriculture Research Center.  (HB1994
HD1)

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
                                                        1994
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES                H.B. NO.           H.D. 1
TWENTIETH LEGISLATURE, 2000                                
STATE OF HAWAII                                            
                                                             
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                   A  BILL  FOR  AN  ACT

MAKING AN APPROPRIATION FOR AGRICULTURE.



BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF HAWAII:

 1      SECTION 1.  The legislature finds that agriculture is one of
 
 2 the State's growth industries and a vital component of the
 
 3 State's economic base.  Agriculture provides an economically
 
 4 viable use of land, providing the open space cherished by
 
 5 Hawaii's citizenry and sought by visitors.
 
 6      The legislature also finds that Hawaii's agriculture
 
 7 industry has become increasingly diverse with new economic
 
 8 opportunities as prime agricultural land has become available and
 
 9 quarantine restrictions have eased.  In addition, sectors of
 
10 agriculture--sugar, pineapple, macadamia, coffee, papaya,
 
11 flowers, and exotic tropical fruits--are working together to
 
12 accelerate the expansion of the agriculture industry.  To
 
13 maximize opportunities for maintaining and expanding the
 
14 agriculture industry and to take best advantage of the thousands
 
15 of acres of prime farmland, production-driven research is
 
16 paramount.
 
17      The legislature recognizes that the commitment of the
 
18 private sector is critical to the success of Hawaii's agriculture
 
19 industry.  The Hawaii Agriculture Research Center (formerly,
 
20 Hawaiian Sugar Planters' Association) exemplifies such
 

 
Page 2                                                     1994
                                     H.B. NO.           H.D. 1
                                                        
                                                        

 
 1 commitment.  The Hawaii Agriculture Research Center (HARC) serves
 
 2 as a model of private-public partnerships for agricultural
 
 3 research, and effectively partners with public institutions, such
 
 4 as the United States Department of Agriculture-Agricultural
 
 5 Research Service (USDA-ARS) and the University of Hawaii college
 
 6 of tropical agriculture and human resources, in facilitating
 
 7 agricultural technology transfer and maximizing the use of
 
 8 limited community resources.  Most of HARC's funding comes from
 
 9 the private sector, which provides the accountability demanded by
 
10 its stakeholders and increases returns on the State's funding,
 
11 benefiting farm production and the local economy.
 
12      The legislature also finds that HARC has been directing its
 
13 research primarily to crops that have received direct financial
 
14 support, such as coffee, papaya, macadamia, sugarcane, and
 
15 forestry.  HARC seeks to help increase commercial production
 
16 through crop improvement programs by focusing on improving
 
17 cultural practices and producing superior planting material
 
18 through plant breeding and selection.  Agricultural research at
 
19 HARC will continue to be a key resource in the State's efforts to
 
20 strengthen and improve the agriculture industry, revitalize the
 
21 economy, and maintain and create employment opportunities for
 
22 residents, especially in rural areas.
 

 
 
 
Page 3                                                     1994
                                     H.B. NO.           H.D. 1
                                                        
                                                        

 
 1      The purpose of this Act is to provide necessary funds to
 
 2 assist in maintaining current minimum levels of agricultural
 
 3 research and development at HARC.
 
 4      SECTION 2.  There is appropriated out of the general
 
 5 revenues of the State of Hawaii the sum of $1,000,000 or so much
 
 6 thereof as may be necessary for fiscal year 2000-2001 for
 
 7 agricultural research and development to be performed by the
 
 8 Hawaii Agriculture Research Center.
 
 9      SECTION 3.  The sum appropriated shall be expended by the
 
10 department of agriculture for the purposes of this Act.
 
11      SECTION 4.  This Act shall take effect on July 1, 2000.