Singapore farmers want more help from authorities

Channel NewsAsia 23 Dec 07;

SINGAPORE: Farmers whose crops were tainted with red dye from an RSAF jet at Tengah Airbase last month are moving on with business after being compensated for their losses.

The authorities had ordered some 200 tonnes of greens to be destroyed after they were stained with red dye from an RSAF (Republic of Singapore Air Force) jet around three weeks ago.

Farmers in Sungei Tengah had to comply because the dye was not approved for use in food.

Liew Yew Fah, one of the affected farmers, started replanting his 0.8-hectare plot soon after the incident.

"I got some seedlings from other farms (and) transplanted them to my farm. It's faster. In over 10 days, I had vegetables to sell in the market," he said.

It is understood that affected farmers received a cash payout of over S$20,000 each from the Ministry of Defence to pay rent and buy new seeds and fertilisers.

Although business goes on as usual for many farmers, one said the incident has turned customers away from buying vegetables from her unaffected farms elsewhere.

And some are pondering over the importance and prospect of agriculture in Singapore as the red dye episode draws to a close.

Bollywood Veggies' farmer Ivy Singh Lim said, "People should understand the whole issue in a broader context, especially now when there's a fear of food production in the whole world. I think the farmers in Singapore should be treasured. We are a lost tribe."

The farmers also want more technical support from the Agri-Food & Veterinary Authority to help them become more productive. A group of them is expected to meet with the Singapore Land Authority in January to discuss about the vision of agriculture in Singapore as well as the terms for renewal of their land leases. - CNA/ac

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