This is real story of a man who gives up building a career as lawyers, doctors and engineers to become a bird farmer in Singapore. He has a smelly introduction to his career but Mr. Ho is proud to be a farmer today.
When asked by people about his profession, his unabashed proclamation that he is a game bird farmer makes their eyes grow wide.
Mr. Ho love to be called a farmer and I am glad to be one says the jovial Mr. Ho, whose father is one of Singapore’s pioneer farmers.
Mr. Ho being the boss’ son did not entitle him to special privileges. He started learning the ropes just like everyone else – by clearing the bird droppings.
At first, I used to curse and swear. It was such a smelly and dirty job. I thought. ‘Why is the boss’ son doing this, why not the other workers?’ says Mr. Ho.
But he soon realized that studying the bird droppings allowed him to tell if the birds were malnourished or sick. To motivate him further, his father told him that whatever droppings he collect were his for keeps. So, Mr. Ho sold them as manure and pocketed $2.50 per packet. After many years gone by, today Mr. Ho is the executive director of Singapore’s only quail and game bird farm. The farm also breeds and sells guinea fowl, pigeons and kampong chicken. When the farm opened to the public, Mr. Ho was tasked with educating visitors on commercial poultry. These talks came to a standstill when Sars and later bird flu struck.
It was then Mr. Ho unaccustomed to the dearth of visitors, set up a subsidiary company called Uncle William Edu & Agri Enterprises in the farming enclave known as Farmart Centre. The Farmart Centre houses mini-farms, about 3 – 4 times he conducts tours around the centre for kindergarten, primary and secondary school children.
His plan is to go into something, a cross between farming and education.
He works six days a week. His days start with checking the chicken mortality rate and the number of eggs lay. After this, he transports a cartload of quail eggs to Farmart Centre.
‘I want the eggs in my shop to be the freshest in town’ that is why I collect my eggs every day and gives away those that are more than three days old’ Mr. Ho says.
Today’s public perception of farming is unlike the old times when it was deemed a lesser job. The man who once baulked at his early farming training says emphatically: ‘Farming in Singapore is not a sunset industry.’ In fact with the organic product gaining popularity these days, farming will be a good source of income in the days to come.
When asked by people about his profession, his unabashed proclamation that he is a game bird farmer makes their eyes grow wide.
Mr. Ho love to be called a farmer and I am glad to be one says the jovial Mr. Ho, whose father is one of Singapore’s pioneer farmers.
Mr. Ho being the boss’ son did not entitle him to special privileges. He started learning the ropes just like everyone else – by clearing the bird droppings.
At first, I used to curse and swear. It was such a smelly and dirty job. I thought. ‘Why is the boss’ son doing this, why not the other workers?’ says Mr. Ho.
But he soon realized that studying the bird droppings allowed him to tell if the birds were malnourished or sick. To motivate him further, his father told him that whatever droppings he collect were his for keeps. So, Mr. Ho sold them as manure and pocketed $2.50 per packet. After many years gone by, today Mr. Ho is the executive director of Singapore’s only quail and game bird farm. The farm also breeds and sells guinea fowl, pigeons and kampong chicken. When the farm opened to the public, Mr. Ho was tasked with educating visitors on commercial poultry. These talks came to a standstill when Sars and later bird flu struck.
It was then Mr. Ho unaccustomed to the dearth of visitors, set up a subsidiary company called Uncle William Edu & Agri Enterprises in the farming enclave known as Farmart Centre. The Farmart Centre houses mini-farms, about 3 – 4 times he conducts tours around the centre for kindergarten, primary and secondary school children.
His plan is to go into something, a cross between farming and education.
He works six days a week. His days start with checking the chicken mortality rate and the number of eggs lay. After this, he transports a cartload of quail eggs to Farmart Centre.
‘I want the eggs in my shop to be the freshest in town’ that is why I collect my eggs every day and gives away those that are more than three days old’ Mr. Ho says.
Today’s public perception of farming is unlike the old times when it was deemed a lesser job. The man who once baulked at his early farming training says emphatically: ‘Farming in Singapore is not a sunset industry.’ In fact with the organic product gaining popularity these days, farming will be a good source of income in the days to come.
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