Farm Plots In Sungei Tengah Up For Tender

Source : The Straits Times, Friday, October 12, 2007

Part of land can be used for shops, restaurants or chalets.

DOWNTOWN Singapore may be buzzing with new developments, but interest is also hotting up in some agricultural land in the north-western corner, part which can house spas, restaurants or chalets.

The Singapore Land Authority (SLA) released four plots totalling 96,031sqm in Sungei Tengah on 20-year leases for public tender yesterday, the second time in three years the Government has put agricultural land up for lease.

The land can be used for fish or vegetable farming, orchid or plant production, or even to rear toads or frogs.

Up to 500sqm of the farmland, about the size of five coffee shops, can be used for other purposes such as spas, cafes, shops or even chalets and hotel rooms.

SLA deputy director of land sales Teo Jing Kok said: ‘The injection of some commercial use would allow the farmers to diversify their operation and have an additional source of revenue.’

Among the interested bidders were not only existing farmers but also new entrants like electronics engineer Howey Wong.

The 33-year-old is keen to to lease a plot for the cultivation of Chinese herbs. He also intends to set up a research centre on the properties of Chinese medicine, and organise educational tours.

He said: ‘But looking at land prices now, I am not sure if I can even afford it.’

Last year, three farm plots in Kranji earned the state $1.76million. An SLA spokesman said the final price exceeded even the SLA’s own valuation of the land, a testimony to demand.

She added that response to these new sites is expected to be good because of Sungei Tengah’s better location, near Choa Chu Kang New Town and the Kranji Expressway.

Currently, Singapore produces about 10per cent of its total food needs. The Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority (AVA) plans to increase local food production.

The new farms, with better technology employed in the existing 234 farms in Singapore, should be able to do this.

For example, the AVA expects to increase the level of foodfish production from the current 12.7per cent to 40per cent. For leafy vegetables, the target is to increase it from the current 5per cent to 10per cent.

The SLA spokesman added that more of such sites can be expected to be launched at a steady rate to cater to demand.