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.