SING-THAI FARM (Supply of pigs)

Mr Yeo Choo Kok asked the Minister for National Development (a) what is the future of the Sing-Thai Farm; (b) whether the supply of pigs will be affected if the farm is closed; and (c) whether alternative sources of supply of pigs from other countries have been secured.

The Minister for National Development (Mr Teh Cheang Wan): Mr Speaker, Sir, the Sing-Thai Farms Co. Ltd was established in 1979 by the Thai Government and the Primary Industries Enterprise (Pte) Ltd to initiate the export of disease-free pigs from Thailand to Singapore. This role has been fulfilled and the farm has been able to show the way for other pig exporting farms in Thailand to export their pigs to Singapore. The farm has served its purpose. The management of Sing-Thai Farms is now reviewing the role and objective of the farm.

In 1984, the Sing-Thai Farms exported only 1,100 pigs to Singapore. This number of pigs is insignificant and will not affect the overall supply of pig% in Singapore, even if the farm is closed. The question of securing alternative sources of supply of pigs from other countries to replace those supplied by the Sing-Thai Farms therefore does not arise.