CROCODILE FARMING IN SINGAPORE

Abstract

This academic exercise has as its aim the study of a neglected sector of agriculture in Singapore — Crocodile Farming, including the processing and retailing aspects. The period covered is confined to 1975• Where necessary, discussion is extended to the years prior to 1975 > to provide a better insight of the industry. This work is divided into three sections and two approaches have been adopted — the macro-regional approach and the micro-geographic approach. The first part of the study is primarily based on the latest available statistical data (1975) compiled from farm registration and licensing forms and other unpublished data obtained from the Primary Production Department. Basically macro-approach oriented, it deals with the contribution of crocodile farming to the primary production sector, the distributional pattern of crocodile farms, the structure of household population, and other farm inputs such as land, labour and capital. The second section examines the processes in crocodile farming — the physical, biological, technical and economic aspects. The micro-geographic approach is adopted for the following reasons. The range of back¬ ground data on the economic, cultural or environmental characteristics of the region as a whole is limited. Hy limiting the scale of this study to a single farm (not a conspicuously small one by Singapore standards), it has been possible to obtain more detailed and exact data than could have been accumulated by expending the same amount of effort on a larger area. The Tan Moh Hong Reptile Skin (Crocodile Farm) has been chosen for this study because it is an integrated unit — crocodile farm, tannery and reptile house — the only one of its kind in Singapore. This type of study offers scope for fieldwork on a manageable scale — data obtainable by interviewing, observing and mapping the farm and studying the environment. Furthermore, the data obtained are basic in the sense that the processes and problems of crocodile farming are representative of all crocodile holdings. The third section concludes with a discussion of the problems and prospects of the industry. In this respect, the micro-approach alone is inadequate for it must be stressed that the data largely concern the farm itself; any information on external factors is limited to what the farmer can or is willing to tell. This is supplemented by the macro-approach for which sources of published statistical data e.g. the External Trade Statistics of Singapore and Overseas Visitor Expenditure in Singapore are used. Further interviews were conducted with other farmers (on other problems), reptile dealers (on sales figures) and governmental authorities.