“CHANGE TO
TRADITION
IS GOOD.”
Despite challenges from international competitors and the risk of
biosecurity threats, Seng Choon Farm’s dedication to freshness
keeps it on top.WORDS DANIEL HERBORN • IMAGES YEW KWANGW
hile the
stereotypical image
of farming often
involves a family
settling into a site
for multiple
generations, in Singapore most agricultural
leases are for a maximum of 20 years. This
means a multigenerational business like
Seng Choon Farm will often cycle through
multiple sites.
Director Koh Yeow Koon oversaw the
poultry farm’s move to its present site in
2010, and says the relocation was a positive
as it now has greater capacity than before.
“At the old site, we were doing 300,000 eggs
a day. When we moved over, we had the
capacity for 400,000 a day. Over the years,we have put in more capacity, and now
we are at 600,000 eggs a day.”
This increased production is vital as
Koh faces the challenge of new market
entrants from overseas. “Our competitors
in neighbouring countries can invest in
land and property, and get some money
back at the end of their tenure,” he says.
“For us, it’s all leasehold, so naturally our
costs are higher. From day one, we have
to work for profit.”
The silver lining of short agricultural
leases in Singapore is that a farm like Seng
Choon is essentially forced to upgrade its
technology each time it moves. “We keep
renewing ourselves,” Koh explains. “Since
our lease is short-to-medium term, it forces
us to be continuously looking at the »theceomagazine.com | 159Interview | INVEST