RESETTLEMENT POLICY IN CHOA CHU KANG (Fragmentation of farm lands)

Mr Tang See Chim asked the Minister for Law and National Development whether he is aware that the resettlement policy of the Housing and Development Board as practised in the Choa Chu Kang Constituency is leading to the fragmentation of the farm lands there and is preventing farms from achieving an economic size whereby they can take advantage of modern scientific methods of farming and reduce costs of production; and what action he proposes to take to correct the situation.

Mr Barker: Mr Speaker, Sir, I am fully aware of the policy involving the resettlement of farmers not only in Choa Chu Kang but also in the whole of Singapore. The present practice of restricting two acres of farmland to each bona fide farmer who is resettled is the best the Government can do to distribute limited farm land equally amongst the dispossessed farmers. Under present conditions in Singapore, the question of economic size of farms does not arise, as the majority of our farmers practise mixed farming. Very few farms, in fact, occupy more than five acres of land. Modern scientific methods of farming by way of the proper use of fertilizers, the selection of good strains, crop rotation and pest control are the most sensible and economically feasible in the context of our local farming conditions. To this end the Primary Production Department has been helping farmers to achieve improved yields through the application of such scientific methods. The effect of fragmentation is, therefore, not necessarily detrimental to the farming community and may have to be accepted in a situation of acute land shortage.