Farmers map out needs to boost islands’ agriculture

The Saipan Sabalu Farmers Market Inc. has identified near-term, mid-term, and long-term priorities or needs to improve the local agriculture industry and make it the No. 1 industry in the Commonwealth.

Association president Ramon B. Camacho identified these priorities or needs in an Aug. 29 letter to Commerce Secretary Sixto Igisomar.

Camacho said the lack of farm equipment, irrigation system, and central marketing facility compromise near-term priorities or needs. At present, the local government does not own any farm equipment that can service local farmers even for a fee.

“The lack of equipment poses extreme hardship to local farmers affecting production, due in part to the huge capitalization cost for heavy duty brand new or used tractor, especially one that is equipped with complete set of attachments necessary for large terrain tillage and other field work required for large-scale production for domestic and export markets,” said Camacho.

Camacho said that a reliable, efficient, and low-cost irrigation system is needed to be installed since it is “the lifeblood of all farm plots” and would accommodate weather condition and soil typology in the islands.

A central marketing facility, on the other hand, is needed to “streamline our local markets.”

Camacho noted that $450,000 is needed to bring about these priorities.

Meanwhile, mid-term priorities or needs include spare parts and consumable materials that are not readily available for farm equipment and irrigation system as well as non-disaster flood assistance like subsidized seeds and fertilizers to replace crops that are washed or spoiled due to heavy rain.

To enable a sustainable agriculture industry in the CNMI, Camacho said permanent staffing or access to fulltime technical experts such as entomologist, horticulturist, agriculture economist, and statistician is needed.

Camacho asked Igisomar for endorsement to enable local farmers “to make a difference in the CNMI economy” by means of reviving the agriculture industry, which ranks as the islands’ top 2 industry based on the economic restorations summits in 2009 and 2011.

“Not only would agriculture development flourish to a new level, but it would also spawn small business incubation, jobs, become a tourist attraction, provide access to fresh and nutritious food for residents and visitors, and create new entrepreneurial opportunities, thereby building a sense of community ownership and participation in a secure, safe, and healthy environment,” he said.