Singapore ranks among the world's top five exporters of orchids. This position is becoming harder to retain as local farms grapple with rising production costs, coupled by the availability of cheaper orchids elsewhere. However, local orchid growers and suppliers are fighting back, repositioning Singapore as a niche supplier of quality blooms.
In the 1950s to 1970s, Singapore was a leading orchid grower in Asia. The exotic blooms were considered a prized possession, recalls Mr Too Peng San, who has been exporting orchids for about 40 years.
In 2009, Singapore exported about S$33.5 million worth of orchids. In 2014, the value was S$19.3 million. That is a drop of more than 40 per cent.
In land scarce Singapore, growers said they may be forced to move out to neighbouring state, Johor. "In Singapore definitely we can't own the land," said Mr Jack Lim, director of the Yik Zhuan Orchid Garden. "We can't buy the land. We can only bid for it from the Government. We can only rent it from the Government."
The ‘Greenhouse effect’
Mr Lim is facing an uncertain future. His farm will be acquired by the Government come mid-2017. To start a new farm from scratch, he said, will not be easy. "There is opportunity cost involved, and the lost of income. For example, we need to set up at another area, totally from scratch," he said.
But Mr Lim is not giving up. In a span of just over two years, he has invested S$1.2 million in two greenhouses to grow sub-tropical orchids. It is not something that most growers here do because of the high cost involved, but it is an investment that is paying off, according to Mr Lim.
