Ang Mo Kio ‘rooftop carpark farm’ to grow four tonnes of vegetables monthly
把居民不常使用的组屋停车场顶层转变为耕作空间，城市农场Citiponics过去一年收成了18公吨蔬菜，并计划下来两三年内设立多四五家“停车场农场”。
去年2月开始运作的Citiponics是本地首家，也是目前唯一一家设在组屋停车场顶层的商业农场。
环境及水源部长马善高日前在国会上说，这项试验计划引起人们对在社区空间耕作的兴趣。新加坡食品局会在接下来几个月，为16个组屋多层停车场顶层招标，详情稍后公布。
自去年4月首次收成以来，Citiponics生产了约18公吨蔬菜，相等于1125名国人去年食用的总叶菜量。
农场创办人之一曾馨韵（26岁）接受《联合早报》访问时说，其实农场每个月最多可生产三至四公吨蔬菜，但因初期阶段还在调整种植程序和试种不同品种等，所以尚未达到最高产量，估计今年能增产。
对于农场未来的发展，她透露：“我们有兴趣竞标新的地点，目标是在接下来两三年内在多四五个组屋停车场设立农场，以提升经济效益。目前也正在研发如何在不耗费太多能源的情况下，种植高价值的品种，如草莓和冰菜等。”
她说，现有空间最长可租用六年，希望当局释出新地点时，可以至少给予一样的租用期，让运作有足够时间稳定下来。
此外，开设高科技农场必须投入大笔资金，他们也需要时间回本。
位于宏茂桥第700座停车场顶层的Citiponics占地1800平方米，主打自家研发的Georgina生菜，占总产量九成，另外一成是菜心。农场会把生菜固定供应给宏茂桥城的平价Xtra霸级市场。
在邻里设商业农场，有助拉近居民与食物源头的距离。除了聘用附近AWWA乐龄之家的年长者帮忙农活，Citiponics也从今年1月起，每月一至两次开放农场给公众参观、采收和购买蔬菜。
曾馨韵认为，通过与社区频密的互动，能让大家有机会接触到食物可持续性、食品安全、零浪费耕作等概念。
Vegetable planting at the new Citiponics Farm @ Ang Mo Kio began only last month, but within weeks, it should be producing enough leafy greens to feed 1,600 people a month.
At the height of production, the 1,800 sq m rooftop farm – situated on a HDB multi-storey car park at Block 700 Ang Mo Kio Avenue 6 – aims to grow up to four tonnes of veggies a month.
The company uses an “Aqua Organic System”, in which a constant stream of water and nutrients is pumped through a network of pipes. It does not use pesticides or produce waste, and aims to save space and energy.
The pipes have holes cut into them, creating pockets which are then filled with tiny clay pebbles. Seeds are placed among the pebbles, which become the growing medium for the plants.
The farm can currently grow up to 25 different types of vegetables, such as nai bai (dwarf bok choy), kai lan (also known as Chinese broccoli or Chinese kale) and cai xin (a green leafy vegetable similar to kai lan).
“This is the first time we are piloting commercial urban farming on a HDB multi-storey carpark, and another example of how our government agencies like AVA and HDB have exercised regulatory flexibility to support the agri-tech industry,” said Senior Minister of State for Trade and Industry Koh Poh Koon on Monday (Jan 4). Dr Koh also announced the main advancements to be made in the agriculture industry this year.
“Planting started in February 2019, with the first harvest expected in April 2019. So residents can soon look forward to fresh vegetables that are produced by community, in the community, for the community.”
Citiponics will hire locals – including elderly residents from the AWWA Senior Community Home – to work on the farm.
Among those keen to get green fingers is 81-year-old AWWA resident Madam Yow Chai Kwai, who said: “I like this environment very much – it is clean, and the vegetables we grow are nice and tasty.
“I hope that Singapore will have more of these farms, so that the elderly in other areas of Singapore can have the experience of working on the farm.”
The farm will also look to provide students with internship and volunteering opportunities, to hone their urban farming skills and cultivate interest in green technology.
Produce from the farm will be sold to FairPrice, which will sell it at its nearby store at the Ang Mo Kio Hub.
“Given the proximity of the farm to the HDB area, we can minimise the foot miles and carbon footprint used for transporting vegetables,” said Mr Teo Hwa Kok, chairman of Citiponics, which has another rooftop farm in Kang Ching Road.
Source: Zaobao / The Straits Times
