Motion: Nadia Ahmad Samdin on securing Singapore’s food future

Land-use plans can change and be rezoned, but farming capability is much harder to recreate once it is gone, said MP Nadia Ahmad Samdin. Citing plots in southern Lim Chu Kang, she said their tenures will expire by next year, though work for their future defence use may only start from 2030. She asked for a clearer framework for interim farm use, instead of leaving land unused. Where farms have to exit, transition support should also recognise the costs of relocating productive systems and preserving some useful capability, she said. Ms Nadia also spoke about making farms more viable, helping farmers capture more value from their produce and improving their access to more markets beyond the fresh produce shelf. Regionally, she suggested exploring a small number of mutually beneficial agri-food pilots with Malaysia and Indonesia - for instance, in climate-resilient production or green lanes for efficient movement of time-sensitive food. She spoke in parliament on Wednesday (Sep 9).