Melissa Lin Straits Times 11 Oct 13;
THE Government has added another $10 million into a fund to help improve the operations of local farms, Minister for National Development Khaw Boon Wan announced yesterday.
The Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority's (AVA) Food Fund, launched in 2009, is aimed at reducing Singapore's reliance on food imports. The latest sum, the third tranche, comes after two previous tranches involving funding of $10 million each.
The strategy aims to either encourage companies to develop their capabilities to increase production here, or help them import more from other countries.
So far, the fund has benefited 71 companies and 141 projects, and increased local farm production by 550 tonnes of fish and 360 tonnes of leafy vegetables.
"For the new tranche, eligible farmers can look forward to greater funding for quality seeds and fish fry. We will also simplify the application process," said Mr Khaw, who was speaking at AVA's inaugural food industry convention.
Going forward, Singapore is prepared to invest in overseas food sources, he said.
He cited Temasek Holdings subsidiary Singbridge's investment in the Jilin Food Zone in China as an example.
AVA will also focus on increasing the productivity of local farms. "(The farms) must invest in technology and adopt efficient farming methods so that they can grow more with less land and fewer workers," Mr Khaw said.
Heavily reliant on food imports, Singapore guards against food shortages by diversifying its sources. It imports more than 90 per cent of its food from 160 countries.
Consumers too, can do their part by making changes to their lifestyle choices, said Minister of State for National Development Mohamad Maliki Osman who spoke to the media at the event.
Following a 2008 campaign by AVA to get consumers to eat more frozen meat, sales of such meat have gone up, he added. Its aim is to reduce Singapore's dependence on the chilled varieties.
Next, he shared that AVA is trying to get consumers to switch from using shelled eggs to powdered or liquid eggs.
Local farms get S$10m upgrade boost
Eligibility criteria also simplified for AVA’s Food Fund, which will co-fund R&D, upgrading of local farms
Siau Ming En, Today Online, 10 Oct 13;
SINGAPORE — An extra S$10 million is being invested in local farms through the Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority’s (AVA) Food Fund, Minister for National Development Khaw Boon Wan announced at the first Food Industry Convention 2013 this morning (Oct 10).
The Food Fund co-funds research and development in local farming technology, helping local farms upgrade their production capability and food source diversification.
Besides pumping in more money, the third phase of Food Fund will include changes such as a simplified eligibility criteria for farm capability upgrading.
Applicants for the Basic Farm Capability Upgrading and Technical Boosters categories no longer need to submit their income statement nor productivity improvement plan. The only supporting document required is the updated ACRA records of the company.
The evaluation criteria will also be more comprehensive, to include farm productivity and past application performance.
On top of that, expansion plans for the third phase of the food fund will include a longer pre-approved list of farm equipment under the Basic Farm Capability Upgrading.
Likewise, AVA will now co-fund up to 50 per cent of the costs incurred in the Technical Boosters category, up from the 30 per cent previously. Farmers can also purchase more items, such as vaccines, feeds, fertilisers and pesticides to boost capability and productivity.
Speaking to the audience, Mr Khaw encouraged them to “make good use of the Food Fund” to make farms “more productive, innovative, and competitive”.
He also shared that nearly S$20 million has been spent from the AVA Food Fund that was set up in 2009. The money has since benefitted 71 companies and 141 projects.
AVA Food Fund gets S$10m boost
Eileen Poh, Channel NewsAsia, 10 Oct 13;
SINGAPORE: The Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority's (AVA) Food Fund has received another tranche of S$10 million.
This was announced by the Minister for National Development Khaw Boon Wan at the inaugural AVA Food Convention on Thursday.
For the new tranche, eligible farmers can look forward to more funding to buy quality seeds and fish fry.
Farmers can also buy vaccines, feeds, fertilisers and pesticides to boost capability and productivity.
The pre-approved list of farm equipment has also been expanded to include new equipment like a water treatment system for fish and seed sowing machine for vegetables.
Mr Khaw added that AVA will also simplify the application process for farmers to tap on the AVA Food Fund so that they can make their farms more productive, innovative and competitive.
The AVA Food Fund was launched in 2009 to help farmers diversify their food production, invest in technology and adopt efficient farming methods so that they can grow more with less land and fewer workers.
Nearly S$20 million has been spent and 71 companies have benefited so far.
The companies' projects have increased local farm production by 550 tonnes of fish and 360 tonnes of leafy vegetables.
- CNA/fa
