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SINGAPORE: Authorities will not “dictate” agricultural methods even as Singapore pushes for increased productivity, Sustainability and Environment Minister Grace Fu said on Wednesday (Nov 25).
Ms Fu spoke during a question and answer session at her ministry’s 2020 appreciation event: Singapore Food Story, which was streamed live on the Ministry of Sustainability and Environment (MSE) Facebook page.
“We will help, we will not dictate, we will not say that you have to use one form of high-tech or another,” said Ms Fu, who was responding to a question on whether Singapore’s shift to high-tech agriculture would leave some traditional farmers behind. and possibly leading them to close their farms.
But in the end, we will see what you can produce. And that’s important to us because we have to deal with a land restriction and a land budget in some way. And then we have to meet our goals, given the limited land. “
Under the target of “30 for 30”, the Singapore Food Agency (SFA) has set a goal of producing 30 percent of Singapore’s nutritional needs by 2030. This was announced in March last year.
READ: Singapore aims to produce 30% of its nutritional needs by 2030, compared to less than 10%
Last month, plans were announced to transform the Lim Chu Kang area into a high-tech agri-food group to help strengthen the country’s food security and also create jobs for Singaporeans.
In a press release, SFA said that new agri-food group Lim Chu Kang should be able to produce more than three times its current food production when finished.
The master plan, done in consultation with stakeholders, is expected to be completed in the next two to three years. Meanwhile, development works, to be carried out in phases, are scheduled to begin in 2024.
All farms in the Lim Chu Kang area will be allowed to stay until the end of their leases, SFA said.
A total of 23 farms, whose leases expire between this year and 2022, will be offered a short lease extension before SFA rebuilds the land. Three farms whose leases expire between 2026 and 2027 will be allowed to remain there until their leases end.
READ: Lim Chu Kang to transform into a high-tech agri-food group under SFA’s master plan
FIND THE ‘BEST COMBINATION’
While Ms Fu did not specify which farmers she was referring to on Wednesday, she noted that the authorities would “respect” the leases of local farmers.
“All the farmers (who) have land leases from us, we will respect the land leases, we will let them ride to the end. So we are not thinking of acquiring the land, ”he said.
However, he added that it is important for farmers to think of ways to increase their production.
“If we are really looking to make use of the existing land that we have to transform the industry, we would like our conventional farmers to also think of ways to increase yields,” he said.
“Therefore, not everyone needs to go high-tech, but they should think about how to increase the amount of production.”
Ms Fu noted that with a “demographic shift” a new generation of farmers could come up with better ideas.
However, he also noted that not many of them would be prepared to “work” in a similar way as the previous generation and that the industry will need to explore less labor-intensive agricultural methods.
“We are also in a demographic change, farmers who are between 60 and 70 years old, if they can get their children, grandchildren to come in, I think that’s a good thing. A new generation can come up with some solutions, “he explained.
“If not, there are not really many Singaporeans who are willing to work hard because it is actually … backbreaking work. And we know that we cannot continue to depend on migrant workers in a very meaningful way. “
READ: Expect more growth, job opportunities in the sustainability sector: Grace Fu
Fu added that the industry would have to increase its productivity to allow farmers to earn more.
“They can produce more so that it is more viable and they can have a better life. Ultimately, that’s what we really want: Singaporeans to get well-paying jobs, careers and businesses, ”he said.
“Farmers bring a lot of knowledge with them. How do we combine that with a different way of thinking about growth? I think that’s what we need.
“I’ve seen in some cases, in fact, second and third generations coming in, really relying on the deep experience of the pioneer generation and adding technology, I think that’s the best combination we can look for.”
Wednesday’s event also marked the launch of the first grant call for the SG Eco Fund of S $ 50 million.
Announced in March, the fund aims to support start-up projects that promote environmental sustainability in Singapore.
The call for grants will close on January 31, 2021.
