Singapore Should Not Give Up on Farming Sector Despite Setbacks

Having a local buffer is non-negotiable given the constant threat to imported food supply

- Shabana Begum

In February 2019, there was much fanfare when fish farm Barramundi Group launched its expanded nursery off Pulau Semakau.

The Republic was nurturing fertile ground (and waters) to propel local farming to greater heights, fuelled by a new target to produce 30 per cent of Singapore's nutritional needs by 2030. More farms sprouted up, and the agri-tech sector was raring to go.

The buoyant appetite for high-tech farming, however, was not to last—and the local farming sector has since been gripped by closures and falling output.

Yet, Singapore cannot give up on trying to build up its local farming sector, as having a local buffer against supply shocks is non-negotiable.

This is especially so with climate change, geopolitical conflicts and animal disease outbreaks posing a constant threat to imported food supply—Singapore's key strategy to safeguarding its food security.

Even though Singapore is importing food from 187 countries and regions, it is not prudent to rely on just external sources when droughts and extreme weather can upend the world's food bowls as climate impacts worsen.

On June 5, the national food statistics showed a drop in the output of vegetables and seafood from local farms. In 2024, 3 per cent of vegetables consumed were grown locally, down from 3.2 per cent in 2023. Local seafood production fell from 7.3 per cent in 2023 to 6.1 per cent in 2024.

The country's three egg farms, however, bucked the trend. These high-tech facilities produced 34.4 per cent of all eggs consumed in 2024, up from 31.9 per cent in 2023. This was due to the farms' upgrades and operational efficiencies.

At the same time, about 50 per cent of bean sprouts consumed come from local farms, Singapore Food Agency (SFA) chief executive Damian Chan told the local media on May 29.

So, these successes give some hope that leafy greens and fish can turn the tide with time and effort.