AGRICULTURAL CHANGE IN SINGAPORE WITH SPECIAL REFERENCE TO AQUACULTURE

Abstract

This academic exercise sets out, using aquaculture as an illustration, to examine agricultural change in Singapore, from the 1940s up to today. The evaluation is carried out through comparison of the traditional techniques of aquaculture and the more advanced methods employed on the newly established farms. An attempt is made to examine the extent to which government policies, especially the Commercial Farm Scheme has influenced the change in the techniques. An attempt is also made to look into the economic viability of the farms studied. The estimates on expenditures and revenue, besides reflecting the difference in the methods of fish farming, revealed that aquaculture farms are viable provided that farmers adopt the appropriate technology. The problems encountered by the farmers are investigated. The more important problems are those relating to labour, technology, government policies, finance and market. Recommendations have been made to these problems. As to the future of agriculture in general and aquaculture in particular, no definite predictions can be advanced. It is, however, evident that its future survival depends on the ability to compete with the other sectors for factors of production.