Agriculture
at Ubin
Vast areas in
the eastern portion of Ubin had been cleared for rubber plantations.
Rubber tapping ended in the 1980's when Singapore lost out to cheaper
rubber sources elsewhere. The trees remain, obscured by the natural
forest that has regrown in the abadoned plantations.
In the 1970's there were efforts to cultivate orchids on a large scale
but these were not successful.
Ubin residents started fruit orchards of durian, rambutans, jackfruit
among others. Coconut plantations were also popular. Some of these
are still gathered and sold at Ubin Town during the fruiting season.
Fishing and seafood farming were other agricultural endeavours. Kelongs
once flourished on the shores of Ubin. Traditional prawn farming using tidal changes was
also popular. Freshwater foodfishes were also cultivated in ponds.
Tropical aquarium fish were also once farmed on Ubin.
Now, about 60 floating fish farms are located off the shores of Pulau Ubin, where fingerling foodfishes are raised in pens to
marketable size.
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Ubin's durians are much sought after!
Rambutans and other Ubin-grown fruits
are oftensold near Ubin Jetty
when
they are in season.
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