First-gen farmers

Why They Choose To Grow A Career In Greens

- Elaine Lee

Mr Leonard Teo developed a love for greens as a boy, but often found locally bought vegetables harsh on his palate.

"They had a bitter taste, and my mother ended up buying expensive organic vegetables for me," said the owner of Straits Agriculture, a five-year-old aeroponics and hydroponics farm in Jurong that produces xiao bai cai, nai bai, curly kale and mizuna, among others.

"I thought, why not try to grow fresh and sweet-tasting vegetables so that I can eat them and Singaporeans can also purchase them at an affordable price?"

The Nanyang Technological University graduate's dream took off in 2020 when he rented a 35 sq m plot of land for about $20,000 in Henderson to start his venture. After stabilizing his operations, he later invested in a rooftop farm in Jurong that cost him $250,000 to set up in January 2022.

While the Singapore Food Agency (SFA) does not track the number of first-time farmers in the country, Mr Teo, 25, is one of the three young farmers who ventured into the agricultural sector during Covid-19.

Mr Teo, who entered university the same year, struggled to balance school and work.

"There was no juggling. I woke up at 8am, went to class till 6pm, and headed to my farm to work till about 3am. It was either do or die," said Mr Teo, who graduated in 2025 with a degree in aerospace engineering.

Mr Teo's mother, Ms Eileen Tan, who helps deliver the vegetables to his customers, said she feels bad that he has to work so hard, but is glad that this venture has built his character.

"I am pretty proud of what he has accomplished so far," she said.

A DESIRE TO CONTRIBUTE

Two other first-time farmers also ventured into the trade after witnessing the impact of Covid-19 on food security in Singapore, which imports more than 90 per cent of its food.