Hotels raise concerns on local agri yields

In fresh efforts to facilitate the growth of the local agricultural sector, the Commonwealth Development Authority is laying the ground work for a business agreement with major hotel and restaurant owners on the island.

CDA officials, acting on behalf of local farmers, are initiating a discussion for a possible partnership with hotel and restaurant owners and operators, wherein they will be asked to patronize CNMI’s agricultural produce over imported food items.

The discussion with hotels and restaurants is part of a technical assistance provided by CDA to local farmers, especially those with outstanding loans with the government-owned lending arm.

The development authority also inked a Memorandum of Understanding with the Department of Lands and Natural Resources to carry out a study that would identify markets where local farmers and fishermen can sell their produce.

The study will be carried out in partnership with biology and agriculture experts from the University of Hawaii’s Small Business Center.

Local farmers and fishermen have intentionally veered away from large-scale businesses due to fears that there is not enough strategies that would help their produce penetrate the CNMI market.

However, Development Authority Executive Director Mary Lou S. Ada pointed out that initial talks with hotel and restaurant owners on the island revealed that the proposed trade partnership is tied to a two-pronged problem.

Ms. Ada said hotel and restaurant owners have raised concerns on the ability of the local farmers to meet their demand for agricultural products, which poses risk to impede normal business operations.

“Hotels and restaurant owners are concerned about the consistency of the supply. Sometimes local farmers can’t meet the demand for agricultural products,” she told in an interview.

According to Ms. Ada, hotels and restaurants have also raised problems on the quality of the CNMI agricultural produce although she stressed that local yields are beginning to improve through technical assistance from off-island organizations and the Northern Marianas College.

At present, agriculture experts from the NMC-CNMI Cooperative Research, Extension and Education Services are conducting a study on the local farming sector aimed at improving vegetable production in the island.

This is the first time a study of such magnitude and method, where trials will be carried out with farmers using their own field, is conducted in the island.

CREES experts, who have joined hands with local farmers and the DLNR, are doing a research on ways to expand the range of crops grown, thereby, satisfying the demand for fresh vegetables.

Researchers are expected to compare classes of crops as well as test and develop improved crop production processes especially during the rainy season.

Commercial grocery stores, with the exception of few establishments, carry frozen agricultural produce like fish and vegetables that were imported from the mainland United States, Micronesia and Asia.