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SINGAPORE : Two food crops, corn and coffee, will be the focus of Singapore's first agri-tainment farm at Lim Chu Kang.
This was announced by developer PDC Corp, which recently won the bid for the 50,900 square metre site.
The land parcel has been awarded for agriculture-cum-recreation and entertainment purposes.
Apart from chalets and F&B outlets, PDC plans to build an Agri Academy and R&D centre there.
Corn will take centrestage at PDC's new farm stay at Lim Chu Kang.
Visitors can learn how hybrid corn is developed and grown at the Agri Academy and R&D Centre.
The results of this research will be used to expand PDC's business in Indonesia.
The company is planning to invest US$50 million over 18 months in a 40,000 hectare piece of land in North Sumatra for cultivation.
And it plans to grow the new strains of hybrid corn developed in Singapore there.
The money will be disbursed over 18 months, starting from the second quarter of FY07.
Veronica Gan, Executive Director and Chief Operating Officer, PDC Corp, said: "We see high potential for agribusiness, especially for corn because based on the studies we have done, the demand for corn is much higher than the present supply."
The corn will be used mainly for animal feed and mostly sold in Indonesia, but PDC also plans to sell corn to biofuel producers.
Ms Gan said: "Later we hope to market and promote our own hybrid corn seeds."
Other than corn, the agri-tainment site will also be nurturing coffee beans in the near future.
PDC is tying up with instant beverage maker Super Coffee Mix to set up a coffee and coffee-related R&D and education centre at the site.
Under an MOU, PDC will also cultivate and grow coffee plants on its plantation in North Sumatra.
The beans will be bought by Super Coffee at a discount to the prevailing commodity price.
An estimated 20 percent of the land there will be used to grow coffee and 80 percent for corn.
Development of the Lim Chu Kang agri-tainment site will start this year, and is expected to be ready by mid-2008.
PDC said the farm was part of its strategy to diversify into new growth areas, but its core business remains in property development and construction.
On Monday, it announced plans to develop a 14-storey building at Playfair Road for light industrial and commercial use.
The freehold property sits on a land area of over 17,000 square feet and will be used for light industrial activities and commercial offices.
Construction is expected to be completed by the first half of 2008. - CNA/ch
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