FARMERS (Subsidy for sanitary amenities)

Mr Ho Kah Leong asked the Minister for Law and National Development if the Government will consider subsidising the small farmers, who are financially weak, in the construction of sanitary amenities according to required specifications, so that pollution of water sources can be prevented and the farmers can still carry on their means of livehood.

Mr Barker: Sir, in an open economy like Singapore's, with no hinterland, the Government cannot subsidise any particular sector of the economy. Small farmers should get together to form more efficient farming units, by sharing the cost of sanitary amenities in order to prevent water pollution.

Large scale pig farming is also more efficient, as it reduces overheads, that is to say, by buying animal feed in bulk, employing less workers to look after pigs, lower cost of veterinary services, and other economies of scale, which have made the big scale pig farmers more prosperous.

Small scale farming must lose out to more efficient large scale farming. So the small farmers must either get together or face unequal competition and be relentlessly on the losing side.

Mr Ho Kah Leong: (In Mandarin): Mr Speaker, Sir, the Minister said in his reply that it is advisable for small farmers to gang up together to pay for all these sanitary facilities. I would like to inform the Minister that because of geographical and other reasons, it is impossible for small farmers to form larger units. I would like to ask the Minister whether he is prepared to set up a committee to look into the matter of reducing the difficulties of these small farmers.

Mr Barker: Sir, in connection with the Kranji/Pandan Reservoir, a committee has, in fact, been set up about three months ago to look into the problems of farmers who will be affected by this scheme. This committee comprises some high-ranking civil servants from my Ministry and the Ministry of the Environment, and it is headed by the Minister of State for the Environment. However, the committee has not completed its investigations and deliberations; but I expect to receive another report soon. By "soon", I do not mean next week; it will probably take a month or two.