Retreat to a farm in Kranji

You don't have to leave Singapore to enjoy a farm stay. The D'Kranji Farm Resort in Lim Chua Kang lets you commune with nature
By Cara Van Miriah, Straits Times 3 Aug 08;

It has sleek wooden flooring and stylish Balinese furnishings. Its open-air bathroom opens up to a small, tranquil garden. It even has its own pebbled driveway that comes with an automated gate.

This resort villa is not in popular Bali or Phuket, but right here in rural Kranji.

It is one of 19 farmstay villas that will open at the new D'Kranji Farm Resort in Lim Chu Kang next month.

Developed at a cost of $10 million, the 5ha lifestyle-cum-agriculture resort (about the size of six football fields) will also feature a wellness spa, seafood restaurant, beer garden, fruit plantation, herb garden and a coffee museum.

Developed by mainboard-listed company HLH Group, which has interests in property development, building construction and agriculture, the resort has been flooded with enquiries and bookings since plans for it were announced last year.

Each air-conditioned 21 sq m villa (nearly the size of a one-room flat) comes with a double bed, bathroom and balcony.

Modelled on the rooms of a five-star hotel, they also offer room service, housekeeping and wireless Internet connection.

Accounts executive Juridah Ibrahim, 28, who made a booking in June, tells LifeStyle: 'I don't have to travel out of Singapore to experience a farmstay. Also, it's a unique getaway and I am looking forward to discover Lim Chu Kang.'

Although admission to D'Kranji is free, the villas won't come cheap. LifeStyle understands that each room could cost at least $200 a night.

The resort is expecting over 70 per cent occupancy rate over the next four months, says Dr Tan Siang Hee, 40, chief executive officer of HLH Agri International, which operates D'Kranji.

In 2005, the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) eased its rules to let farms open shops, restaurants and farmstays. The Singapore Land Authority (SLA) followed up the following year by putting up vacant state land for tender for agricultural entertainment uses in Lim Chu Kang.

Mr Teo Jing Kok, SLA's deputy director of lease management & sales, says: 'The agri-tainment uses enable entrepreneurs to try something different to make Singapore a more exciting place to live, work and play.'

In 2006, HLH's wholly-owned subsidiary HLH Agri R & D won the bid for the largest of three plots of land in Lim Chu Kang at $880,000 on a 20-year lease.

Construction and building firm Yoli Technologies won the bid for the other two plots of land, also earmarked for agri-tainment, at $476,336 and $398,000.

Dr Tan tells LifeStyle: 'We are targeting 60 per cent locals and the rest are foreign visitors. They will include families, schools and corporate companies who come here for retreats.'

He says the resort will not be adding more rooms as it has to comply with URA's guidelines of building up to a maximum of 300 sq m for hospitality purposes.

But D'Kranji will not be the only operator offering farmstays at Lim Chu Kang. The Nyee Phoe Group, which runs a 2.2-ha flower farm, will be building four villas to be completed by the end of this year.

At D'Kranji, visitors can go on free educational tours to learn about the agriculture products at the farm, which will incorporate a herb garden with over 30 types of herbs such as basil, sage and lemon balm.

Its 21 farming plots will offer crops such as dragon fruit, corn, guava and mango- steen for sale.

There will also be a 1,000 sq m corn field and 1,000 sq m padi field at the education facility, says Dr Tan.

Business owners in Lim Chu Kang welcome the new farm. Says Mrs Ivy-Singh Lim, 58, who runs the Bollywood Veggies organic farm next door: 'The new farm will enhance the lifestyle offerings in Lim Chu Kang. They will draw many more visitors, which is beneficial for all of us.'

Next January, Bollywood Veggies will incorporate a $500,000 culinary school called Bollywood Bhanccha (Warrior's Kitchen in Nepalese).

SLA's Mr Teo says: 'The entrepreneurs are taking the bold initiatives to turn Lim Chu Kang into a rustic recreational hinterland.'

Meanwhile, Dr Tan wants to draw 500,000 visitors to his farm annually, which is about 1,400 visitors daily. To achieve this, the resort will provide a free shuttle service every 45 minutes from Yew Tee MRT station next month.

This is in addition to the existing hourly shuttle service from Kranji MRT station to Lim Chu Kang from 9am to 5pm, provided by Kranji Countryside Association. A round trip costs $2 for adults and $1 for children.

Giving a tour of D'Kranji, which now has 22 employees, Dr Tan adds: 'While staying here, visitors can take the opportunity to explore Lim Chu Kang. There are many types of farms to visit here.'