by Daphne Ong
Singaponics High Tech Farm buzzed with excitement on a Tuesday morning, as some 200 Primary 4 students from Lakeside Primary School visited as part of their Applied Learning Programme, getting a first-hand look at local food resilience in action.
Located near Choa Chu Kang, Singaponics has been part of Singapore’s agriculture industry since the 1970s. The farm regularly conducts guided tours for the public and partnered with Go Green SG to engage more people on the importance of local food production in safeguarding Singapore’s food security.
“We felt that we can use Go Green SG to reach a wider audience, [and our work] aligns well with the national movement,” shared Ms Stella Chia, Director at Singaponics High Tech Farm.
The visit began with an introduction to the farm’s history and operations, followed by a tour of the grounds. From lush greenery to sprawling fishponds, students experienced sustainable farming first-hand beyond the classroom.
“Being responsible eco-stewards from a tender age, it’s important for them to know how to contribute to this cause, and prepare for the future,” shared Mdm Shahidah, a Lakeside Primary teacher.
One of the stations in the guided tour allowed the children to touch the fish – a literal hands-on activity!
The students squealed with delight as they touched live animals, including fish and toads. Feeding the 30,000 patin fishes was another highlight, with the fish surging eagerly to the surface in a frenzy of splashes – a lively display that showed why they are also nicknamed “dancing fish”.
Lakeside Primary students brave the splashes created from feeding 30,000 patin fish at once.
“I enjoyed catching the guppies!”, 10-year-old Aiden, from Primary 4 Perseverance, shared about the tour. Fellow student Akshara, from Primary 4 Respect, added that she enjoyed the dancing fish segment of the tour.
At the end of the visit, the students were each allowed to bring back their own mini-ecosystems – consisting of plants and guppies – a reminder that each of them has a part to play in building a more food-resilient Singapore.
The students were excited to see the koi fish, constantly snapping pictures.
“I will tell my parents that we can grow our own vegetables at home. If other countries do not export food to Singapore, we might not have enough food, so Singapore has to grow our own locally,” reflected Aiden.
