We Are The Papaya Heroes!

3) Ans: The location that our group has chosen to site our farming activities is at Upper Seletar Reservoir. There are a few reasons to why we have chosen the Upper Seletar Reservoir.

First of all, there will be a ready supply of water for the farm as it is a reservoir. Thus, the accessibility of the water can cut the cost of having to pay for water to water the plants. The plants can be watered through the irrigation system which will link the water from the reservoir to the sprinklers in the farm. This will ensure that the plants will have a constant supply of water and hence the papaya will be able to grow well and healthy.

Second, in order to prevent too much water from seeping into the soil and affect the growth of the plant, we have decided to build a greenhouse, 11m by 8m, which will be able to store the tallest of papaya trees. Another benefit from building the greenhouse will be that it will help trap heat due to the fact that it is transparent and will not allow much heat from the sunlight to escape. Pest will also not be able to enter the greenhouse that easily, preventing the papaya from being damaged. Hence, a warm and clean environment in the greenhouse will ensure that the papayas grow healthily.

Third, the Upper Seletar Reservoir is near the Mandai Zoo (Singapore Zoo). Being near the zoo means easy access to manure. Horse and cow manure can be combined with bedding in order to create compost, which in turn can be used for as soil for the plants. This means that there is no need to fork out extra money for purchasing manure or compost which is relatively expensive. The Mandai Zoo also has a food court where there is a fruit seller. We have made an agreement to sell our papayas to the fruit seller when they are ripe. The papayas will not need to be process as they are being developed in a clean and healthy environment and also because of the fact that we will be selling the papayas to the fruit seller, who will be selling them as they are. This way, we will not only make profit from selling the papayas but also save money from not having to process the papayas.

Lastly, having taken into consideration the updated housing and other development plans in Singapore, we have found out that they will not be building any new infrastructure near the Upper Seletar Reservoir. Thus, there will be, and have, no building near the reservoir. This will ensure that there will be no moving of the plantation to other places and that they will be able to grow steadily. This is because the papayas need a lot of sunlight and if any building were to be in the vicinity, then, sunlight would be blocked, eventually causing the plants’ growth to be affected. Another reason is that papayas are very sensitive to moving their roots. A slight movement will cause them to wither. Thus, no movement will ensure that they grow steadily and healthily.

The environment around the Upper Seletar Reservoir is beneficial to the plantation. A good supply of water, strong amount of sunlight, good supply of fertilizer and the plantation can serve as a greenery to beautify the area for the people around.

Upper Seletar Reservoir and the Zoooooo !

Answers to Question 2 !

2) What is the method of agriculture that your group choose?

- Explain your choice based on the Singapore’s land characteristics.

Q2) Ans: The method of agriculture that our group has chosen to use is high-technology farming. We have decided to use this method of agriculture as we have taken in notice the limited amount of land that Singapore offers us as most of the land in Singapore has been devoted to urban development. Thus, we have to use a method that maximizes the use of the small amount of land. High-technology farming is also common among entrepreneurs who develop into agri-businesses. High-technology makes use of modern technology (machinery, robots, computers, satellites, etc.) to maximize the amount of profits and at the same time minimize the cost of production. It can be applied to agriculture of different types as well as scales. Three things make high-technology farming stand out from the other methods of agriculture.

1) The first point is that it helps in reducing the time and amount of work needed to farm the plant which is done through irrigation and improving breeds and seeds. Irrigation is the artificial method of watering the plants. The plants are watered with a series of pipes and sprinklers instead of having men to literally take watering can and water the plants. Irrigation helps to reduce the amount of manpower needed and also saves a lot of time. In addition to the above benefits, irrigation also helps to prevent over-irrigation, where water is depleted and that will lead to soil leaching resulting in soil nutrient being washed away into the groundwater. Improved seeds of papaya plants will result in a healthier crop of papayas. Greenhouses are also useful in trapping heat from sunlight with the help of transparent roofs and walls to help the crops grow better. The soil near the Upper Seletar Reservoir is damp and fertile as it frequently rains in Singapore and fertilizers are added to it.

2) The second point is that it also helps to maximize the amount of profits and at the same time minimize the costs of production through the use of agro-chemicals and farm machinery. Everybody doesn’t want their plantation to die within a few weeks right? Thus the use of organic fertilizers is used to increase farm output per unit of land. Pesticides and weedicides are used to kill pests and unwanted plants as they may lower crop production and leave more nutrients for crops. Other than using agro-chemicals, farm machinery is introduced to raise production as well as to face the problem of labour shortage. Machines replace human labour by helping in farming processes ( ploughing, sowing, harvesting of crops ). Refrigerated trucks, which are used for transport of produce, help to keep the produce fresh.

3) The last point is that diseases are prevented from damaging the produce. Computers are used for greater care for poultry and livestock. Nutrients are given to them for them to grow quickly and healthily. That raises the quality of the produce and that prevents the produce from getting diseases. This will prevent the papayas from getting the “papaya ring spot virus”, which threatened to wipe out Hawaii’s papaya industry completely. It was due to genetically modified papayas that the diseases were unable to spread.

Irrigation, Ploughing, Sowing & More

Answers to Question 1 !

1) What is the food or food product that your group decides to farm?

- Explain the choice and relevance for choosing this food product.

- Take into account Singapore’s climate and the diet of Singaporeans.

Ans: After a careful inspection of the factors, this includes the diet of Singaporeans and Singapore’s climate, our group have hence decided to farm papaya. Singaporeans prefer to stay fit and go to the gym every once in a week and it is because of that fact that papaya is the perfect choice for them. It is sweet, healthy and most important of all, it is packed with loads of vitamins and minerals. Papaya is not only a profitable product but also an object of unimaginable uses. The whole papaya plant, carica papaya, can be used to serve different purposes.

Starting from the papaya fruit, it can be eaten raw or served as delicacies. Ranging from jellies to juices, the papaya fruit can be transformed into different kinds of the form that not only tingle your taste buds but also help aid in digestion. Papayas contain natural fiber, enzymes, carotene, essential minerals and not to forget vitamin C. That’s right, instead of eating other citrus fruits, the papaya fruit is also another source of vitamin C. The enzymes found in the papaya fruit are also essential in male fertility. This can help tackle the current crisis of possibly facing an aging population by 2050, due to a low birth rate and 0 net migration that Singapore is facing. With so many Singaporeans sinking their teeth into delicious papayas, I’m sure that the birth rate of Singaporeans is bound to go up. It can also prevent heart attacks from happening as papayas are high in fiber which helps lower cholesterol levels. Other than eating the fruit, papayas are also marketed in tablets to remedy digestive problems.

Moving on to the other parts of the papaya plant, the black seeds are indeed edible and have a sharp, spicy taste. It can be grounded and used as a substitute for black pepper. This can help as the marketing of seeds can not only earn money but it can also help to reduce the importing of spices from other countries. Thus, more money can be used for nation building and making Singapore a greater place to live in. The papaya leaves can be made into tea which can prevent malaria. Although malaria is not very prominent in Singapore, but it is always better to be safe than sorry. Papaya tea is also sweet tasting and may prove to be a hot-seller among Singaporeans who live in a hot climate.

A special thing that papaya contain is papain. Papain is an enzyme that can be extracted and treat cuts, rashes, stings and burns. Papain ointment is also made from fermented papaya flesh and applied as a gel-like paste.

Singaporeans are one of the most health-conscious people in the world and papaya can prove to be the thing that they need. It can be made into a papaya face pack which help get rid of acne. Skins lightening creams or lotions are also made from papaya. The above mentioned, papain, help to dissolve dead skin, leaving a fresh and clean glow to the face. Papaya is also great for the hair and helps control dandruff.

Health problems are amidst many that Singaporeans face. Papaya seeds and leaves are useful as they help treat intestinal worms that are found in the body. Papaya juice clear away colon, pus and mucus, thus preventing infections. The papaya skin is great for treating skin wounds as well as places where healing takes longer. Singaporeans often think that they are fat or obese, hence they take diets. Papaya may be the solution as it is low in calories but high in nutritional value, thus making it the most viable food to be taken while on a diet. Pregnant ladies may want to eat papayas as if consumed on a daily basis, papayas may relieve morning sickness and nausea. Anti-inflammatory properties help reduce pain from those suffering from diseases such as arthritis, edema and osteoporosis. Women who suffer from menstrual irregularities may want to eat raw papayas and they help promote natural flow of menstruation.

Taking into calculation of Singapore’s climate, we have since decided that it is very appropriate to farm papayas in Singapore. Located near the equator, Singapore is a tropical country, hot, humid, and sometimes uncomfortable with rainfall. The temperature rarely drops below 20° C (68° F). During the daytime, it usually rises to 26° C (80° F), whereas the evening temperature is only slightly lower. Singapore has a minimum average temperature of 23 degree Celsius and maximum of 31 degree Celsius.

Humidity reaches 90% at night and goes down to 60-70% during the day, the average humidity is 80-85%.

Lying in the tropical zone, Singapore is always moist and faces heavy rainfall; the rain in Singapore usually comes shortly, but intensively. Rainstorms cover about 40% of the period in the rainy season from November to January.

Papaya grow best when there is not too much water in the soil and plenty of sunlight. Plant a papaya in Singapore and there you have it! The ultimate combination, a hot and wet climate to cultivate a papaya plantation.

The seeds are planted in warm conditions about 26° C. The seeds germinates in about 2 to 5 weeks and begin flowering 9 9 - 12 months after they germinate.

There are 4 “seasons” in Singapore. Below are descriptions of the 4 “seasons” in Singapore:

1. North-East Monsoon Season (December to March)
Northeast winds sometimes reaching 20 km/hr. Cloudy climatic state covers from December and January with frequent afternoon rainfalls. Occurrence of widespread moderate to hard rain lasts from 1 to 3 days at the extension. It is relatively drier in February until early March. Also normally windy with wind speeds sometimes reaching 30 to 40 km/hr from January to February.

2. Pre South-West Monsoon (April to May)
Light and alterable winds, with afternoon and early evening heavy rains, including frequent thunder.

3. South-West Monsoon Season (June to September)
Southeast and Southwest winds. Early morning "Sumatra," Line squalls normally happens in this misty period.

4. Pre North-East Monsoon (October to November)
Moderate to alterable winds with sea breezes in the afternoon. Also, thunders and rainfalls in the late afternoon and early evening.