Farm policy sought to boost agri sector

Rep. William S. Torres yesterday vowed to draw up a comprehensive policy for the local agricultural sector to help farmers improve production in order to provide enough food supply for domestic consumption.

He also asked the Commonwealth Development Authority to conduct a study on market demand to give farmers ideas on which crops and produce they should grow for sale in the local market.

The move followed his meeting with representatives of the Department of Lands and Natural Resources, including Sec. Jack Tenorio, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Northern Marianas College, Department of Commerce, CDA and the Nutritional Assistant Program.

The discussion focused on problems affecting local farmers and assistance being extended by both federal and local agencies to the sector as well as other issues concerning agricultural production, such as ways to increase yield.

According to Mr. Torres, there was an agreement to seek means to make farming and agriculture a viable industry in the CNMI, particularly in light of the decline in the tourism business.

He said he would propose the comprehensive policy in the Legislature to make sure that the sector will receive much-needed assistance from the government in an effort to make it more productive.

“It is extremely important for us to come up with such policy if we want to achieve the goal of making agriculture viable here in the CNMI so that we can establish this industry as cushion to the dominant industries like garment manufacturing and tourism,” the legislator told in an interview.

Mr. Torres disclosed such policy, which will also offer the “most effective and responsive support system” for farmers on the islands, will mirror the national policy since the Commonwealth also benefits from federal programs offered by USDA.

The policy could include financing, crop insurance, space availability for farmers, pest control management, irrigation, and internal and external marketing or export potential of local produce, he said.

Although he did not say when the proposal will be filed in the Legislature, the representative said he expects to meet with federal and local officials to help draft a bill.

Feasibility study

In the meantime, he underscored the need to come up with the analysis that will determine marketability of the local crops as well as the supply and demand in the CNMI.

Mr. Torres conceded that at present, marketing is “inadequate” largely due to lack of study as to the consumption of the locally-produced crops.

He said the government needs to look into the demand by garment firms, hotels and other small stores for cash crops, noting that even the food stamp program requires that recipients must purchase a third of their provision from local farmers.

“Marketing should be the focus by our farmers to control local demand,” explained Mr. Torres, adding that the proposed study will “educate them what kind of cash crops they need to plant to meet the demand.”

Other concerns raised during the meeting included toxic level of pesticides used by farmers, lack of product seal to identify local produce, high water rates, inventory of farming equipment and machinery and technical and financial assistance.

There was also a discussion on the possibility of establishing a common marketplace, much like the Sabalu market being held every Saturday by DLNR where farmers can sell their produce, as well as fishing base on the beach from across the Horiguchi Building in Garapan.

Based on latest government statistics, the CNMI has a total of 103 farms occupying 3,413 acres of land, down from 119 farms on 14,421 acres of lands about 10 years ago. But agriculture production has steadily increased with over $2.8 million in gross sales in 1998.