DOC supports plans to boost agriculture sector

The Department of Commerce is backing a move by the CNMI Legislature to remove restrictions in the overly protected local agriculture sector, in fresh effort to revitalize existing industries in the Northern Marianas.

Commerce Secretary Frankie Villanueva is particularly in support of proposals to reduce minimum investment threshold for commercial farming and fishing from $2 million to $200,000.

Mr. Villanueva said the proposed reduction, offered by a pending legislation introduced by House Speaker Ben Fitial, is more reasonable than the current level which has been considered too restrictive.

According to the commerce chief, the decrease may spur serious consideration for investments in the two “protected” industries of commercial farming and fishing.

He also supports moves to repeal an existing policy that requires 75 percent local or U.S. citizen ownership of businesses related to commercial farming or fishing before a license to operate may be issued by the commerce department.

“The proposal further enhances the preceding intent above [reduction of minimum investment], as we understand it, in that not only is the investment threshold for such industries reduced, but also the ownership minimum of 75 percent is eliminated,” Mr. Villanueva said.

The administration of Gov. Pedro P. Tenorio has been looking for new ways to develop the agriculture sector in light of the recent hardships experienced by the local tourism and apparel manufacturing industries.

Members of the Committee on Agriculture, Fisheries and Aquaculture have been continuously exploring all possible ways to help local fishermen and farmers increase their productivity.

The Central and Western Pacific Ocean, where the Northern Marianas is situated, is home to the world’s largest tuna fishery, which is currently worth approximately $1.7 billion.

In efforts to protect the region’s rich marine life, members of the Association of Pacific Island Legislatures has adopted a resolution pushing for the development of a regional fishing cooperative arrangement among island member states.

APIL indicated that there will at least be two main areas where cooperation in fisheries could be considered advantageous.

First is fisheries management which guarantees that sovereign countries will have the right to explore, exploit, conserve and manage the living resources in their exclusive economic zones.

Second is fisheries development which provides access for a number of cooperative arrangements. This means people residing in the Western Pacific should learn how they can join hands and linking their goals together.

The CNMI government is also planning to seek more federal support in local programs aimed at promoting agricultural development.

Work is now underway to woo USDA to support Northern Marianas’ farmers in maintaining and improving recordation of crop production, and providing assistance for crop damage from typhoon and flood.