S'pore farms press on with smarter strategies, collective cost-cutting

Several farms continue to persevere despite upheavals in sector

- Shabana Begum Correspondent

Ms Sharon Goh, director of CropCiti, whose greenhouses in Neo Tiew grow vegetables such as chye sim, bayam, local lettuce and bok choy through hydroponics. "I believe in the natural environment, weather and climate," she says. "Make use of the sunlight instead of LED lights that cost a lot of money."

(ST PHOTO: AZMI ATHNI)

Despite upheavals facing Singapore's farming sector, new farming operations are quietly taking shape in an eight-storey aquaculture building that had stood dormant for two years.

In March 2025, AquaChamp took over the former Apollo Aquaculture Group's building on Neo Tiew Crescent, and it is currently rearing three tonnes of vannamei shrimp and five tonnes of hybrid grouper and coral trout on two storeys.

AquaChamp's drive to reignite the multi-storey farm is but one green shoot sprouting from Singapore's tough farming soil. Several farms continue to persevere, and have made recent collective efforts to reduce production costs.

The aquaculture building was among several local farms and industry players that the media visited on Nov 25, three weeks after Singapore's 30 by 30 farming target was replaced by revised targets due in 2035.

The aim now is to produce 20 per cent of the country's consumed fibre, such as leafy vegetables, and 30 per cent of protein, including seafood and eggs, by 2035.

The media visit was hosted by the Singapore Agro-Food Enterprises Federation (SAFEF), an industry-led organisation which aims to improve the productivity and profitability of local farms.