Gov’t eyes fishing and farming coop

The CNMI government is eyeing the possibility of establishing a fishing and farming cooperative, a move seen to revitalize the islands’ agriculture sector amid dramatic slowdown in garment manufacturing and tourism industries.

The plan is part of the government’s intensified efforts to minimize the Commonwealth economy’s heavy reliance on only two major business activities, which are both vulnerable to suffer adverse impacts from external forces.

The cooperative is expected to alleviate the difficulties faced by local farmers and fishers in marketing their daily harvest and catch. It will also allow easy access by CNMI consumers to fresh agricultural produce.

The Department of Commerce has been asked to study the feasibility of establishing an agriculture cooperative, including the costs and benefits such a program entail.

Part of the government’s plan is to institute a marketing strategy that would help local farmers and fishermen penetrate the CNMI market which is presently flooded with imported agricultural products.

Officials are optimistic the establishment of cooperative program aimed at facilitating the growth of the local agriculture industry would help revitalize the islands’ dwindling economy due to sharp decline in commercial and industrial activities.

The Economic Recovery and Revitalization Task Force subcommittee on agriculture, fisheries and aquaculture earlier noted the possible need for the government to designate lands for the sole purpose of farming in order to develop the agriculture potentials of the CNMI.

The agriculture subcommittee has recommended the evaluation of wet land areas in Chalan Kanoa, Susupe and Tanapag by the Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR).

The body has also recommended that the area be given a blanket permit for agriculture and aquaculture production, stressing the need to determine the feasibility of leasing the area to private farmers for purposes of developing food production.

At the same time, the agriculture subcommittee noted the importance of evaluating the possibility of reserving farm sites in Kagman, Calabera, Rota Sabana Farm Plot, and Tinian Marpo Farm Plot.

The government may try to lease back some areas from the military then re-lease to local farmers, suggested the subcommittee. It added that land fees for Kagman agricultural farm areas should be increased to discourage inefficient cultivation and to encourage more serious commercial farming.

The subcommittee has also recommended that agricultural products imported during its harvest season in the CNMI should be taxed in order to prevent unfair competition with local farmers.