What You'll Do
Join Ngee Teck Huat, the vibrant vegetable farmer Pua Chon Teck, in an exciting experience. Prepare for a captivating adventure as we delve into the fascinating world of vegetable farming! Discover the bustling network of workers, the multitude of vegetable varieties, and the tireless dedication of Mr Pua and his team. From contract farming to international logistics, this is a journey you won't want to miss! Get ready to be entertained and enlightened by the remarkable story of Ngee Teck Huat, the unsung hero of Singapore's vegetable market.
About MY-SG
Singapore and Malaysia are closely knitted cultural, historically and socially. This series hopes to highlight the essential, everyday connections between Malaysia and Singapore—particularly through the flow of produce. From fresh produce and poultry to beloved snacks and ingredients, much of what fills our tables in Singapore begins its journey across the border.
This programme shines a light on the unseen hands and early-morning movements that keep our markets and kitchens stocked. Through stories and shared meals, MY-SG honours the people, relationships, and supply chains that nourish both nations, reminding us how interwoven our daily lives truly are.
About the Host
Meet Mr Pua, the driving force behind Ngee Teck Huat, one of the largest vegetable suppliers serving Singapore's markets today. Mr Pua has spent nearly three decades growing and supplying vegetables, and his passion for the work remains undiminished. “I’ve never complained about being tired,” he says. “I really enjoy it.” Even on public holidays like Labour Day or Hari Raya, he insists on working—asking his team to leave certain tasks for him just so he can keep moving. For Mr Pua, farming isn’t just a job—it’s his way of life and his form of exercise.
His journey began at just 19 years old, when he and his brother decided to strike out on their own after finishing school. With their father focused on wholesale vegetable trading and not directly involved in guiding them, the brothers took the initiative to reserve their own plot of land. While his older brother helped register the business, it was Mr Pua—with strong support from his mother—who eventually took the reins. Starting with a $20,000 loan from Shun Feng to purchase farming nets, he built up the business from scratch.
Today, Ngee Teck Huat produces an astonishing volume of fresh produce—over 15,000 to 20,000 kilograms of vegetables daily, with 90% bound for Singapore. They grow over 100 varieties of vegetables, including top sellers like xiaobaicai, kangkong, bayam, and ongcai. The farm supplies major retailers like NTUC, Sheng Siong, Hao Mart, Umart, and Baimei, and maintains a tight logistics operation to ensure freshness.
A hands-on leader, Mr Pua starts his day early by visiting the farms, checking crop quality, and distributing fertilisers weekly. With over 100 workers from Nepal, Indonesia, and Bangladesh, many of whom have worked with him for years, he believes in giving them ownership through contract farming to boost motivation. Unlike others who buy and resell, Mr Pua’s edge lies in growing his own vegetables—something he takes great pride in, every single day.
Who should come?
- Everyone is welcome to participate in this exciting tour!
Programme Details
- Approximate Duration: 9.0 hours (Please arrive 15-30 minutes before the tour for registration)
- Language: English and Mandarin
- Meeting Point: Meet at EITHER My Community's Office (Blk 115A Commonwealth Drive, #04-13, Singapore 149596) OR Chinese Garden MRT Station Exit A (Bus Stop B28341). A chartered bus will bring us to Malaysia.
- Ending Point: The event will end at Pasir Panjang Wholesale Centre (1 Wholesale Centre, Singapore 110001)
- The tour will proceed rain or shine.
Attire
- Participants are encouraged to wear comfortable long sleeved clothing to protect themselves from the sun and from mosquitoes.
- Participants must wear covered shoes with good soles grip.
What to bring?
- Bring along your physical NRIC, passport, a change of clothes, hand sanitiser, wet wipes, insect repellent, a bottle of water and an umbrella.
- Each traveller is solely responsible for ensuring that his or her passport or other travel document is valid for at least 6 months from the date of return and that he or she has all necessary visas, permits or passes as may be required by the governmental authorities of Malaysia.
- Please bring along your own breakfast to consume on the bus.
- We recommend that participants bring 100RM/person for meals and additional expenses.
- Participants are encouraged to bring their own earphones (with a standard 3.5mm audio jack) because we will be using radio guides for the tour!
- Please ensure that you bring along any personal medication. Asthmatic individuals are reminded to bring their inhaler.
What to expect?
- As we will be visiting a farm, participants may need to walk on dirt paths during the tour.
Other important information
- Our facilitators will reach out to you before the event with further instructions. Please ensure that you are contactable via the email and phone number provided.
- The ending time provided is an estimate. Due to traffic congestion, customs clearance and other circumstances, the duration of the tour is an estimate and can only be used as a reference. Participants should not plan for activities after the tour.
- Parking is available at the meeting point. However, we recommend participants take public transport or a taxi to the meeting point to avoid extended parking charges.
- The venue is not wheelchair accessible.
- Photography is allowed at event premises.
Terms and Conditions
- Participants may wish to purchase a travel insurance separately. We will not be responsible for the loss, damage or theft of any item(s) belonging to a participant throughout the duration of the tour.
- Each ticket admits only one participant.
- Without limiting any other provision of these Terms and Conditions, to the fullest extent permitted by law, we shall not be responsible or assume any liability to any participant for:
- any injury, damage, loss or delay affecting any person or property not arising from our own negligence or breach;
- any loss, damage, cost, expense or delay suffered or incurred due to circumstances beyond our reasonable control, including but not limited to:
- actions or omissions of third parties (including any applicable third party service providers);
- mechanical breakdowns;
- a Force Majeure Event;
- a failure by the participant to comply with any of his or her obligations hereunder;
- a failure by the participant or traveller to posess, obtain or maintain any travel documentation required for the tour (e.g. health certificates, visas, valid passports, etc.);
- a failure by the participant to follow reasonable instructions, including but not limited to noting and complying with specified check-in and check-out and/or meeting places and times.
- The sequence of any itinerary for a tour may be subject to change from time to time, due to traffic conditions and other unforeseen circumstances.
- It is the responsibility of participants who are pregnant to ensure that they have a doctor’s certification that they are fit for travel. Notwithstanding any such doctor’s certificate, My Community has the sole discretion to disallow a pregnant traveller to undertake certain activities and no refund shall be payable in such event.
- By agreeing to participate in the tour, every participant will be responsible for any injury, loss of damage due to careIessness of other actions on his/her part or that of children under his/her charge.
- It is compulsory for a parent/guardian to accompany any child of or under the age of 18.
- Videos and photographs may also be taken during the event. By registering for this event, you give My Community full rights to use the photos for marketing and publicity.
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