Agriculture, aquaculture, mariculture, and animal husbandry

For the past several years we have been searching for a panacea that will cure our economic illnesses. We have tried garment factories but failed. Daily we plea with investors to come help us by investing in various activities. Today we are flirting with casino gambling in Saipan. We are franticly searching for anything or anybody to come and save us. We just don’t want to accept the fact that help can only come from help within ourselves.

The Northern Marianas Islands in its short history since becoming a United States commonwealth in 1986 has tried several activities to become a prosperous group of islands. The only one that is still sustaining us is tourism. And that also is flagging. Today we enjoy about 300,000 plus or minus tourists per year. So what should we do?

We continue failing to see the acres of diamonds right in our back yards in four areas-agriculture, aquaculture, mariculture, and animal husbandry. Let’s talk about each one.

Agriculture has changed dramatically, especially since the end of World War II. Food and fiber productivity has soared due to new technologies, mechanization, improved seed genetics, population growth, and government policies. Years ago the same plot of land produced say only 100 lbs of vegetables can now produce about 45 percent more in the same size plot due to improved techniques.

In the United States 1 percent of the labor force is in farming. And 1 percent of the Gross Domestic Product is from agriculture.

Aquaculture is the cultivation of various shellfish and various fin fish in ponds or tanks. For example, one of the largest activities in aquaculture is the growing of shrimp. This activity of cultivating shellfish and other fish has become an industry involving billions of dollars and a major export-import industry world wide.

Mariculture or marine aquaculture is the cultivation of marine organisms in their natural environment. Mariculture of fish, shellfish, seaweed, sea cumbers, and other marine products is seeing explosive growth around the world. Farming the sea holds the promise of producing the food and the livelihoods that a growing population requires.

Animal husbandry is the cultivation of various animals for meat. This includes cows, pigs, goats, sheep, deer, chicken, and ducks. By careful breeding and raising of these animals, we can enjoy a major source of our protein food.

These four areas of food development have helped and are helping many third rate nation countries to prosper. These activities are supplying work, food and money to what would otherwise be a hopeless and poverty ridden community. They are an invaluable asset to us.

So what does the CNMI’s tiny islands with a total land area of 179 square miles for all the islands, and a population of 53, 883 (2010 census) with 90 percent of the population residing in Saipan have to do with agriculture, aquaculture, mariculture, and animal hubandry? Do we have the ingredients for becoming a fairly major player in these three areas?

We are blessed with three major islands-Saipan, Tinian, and Rota-that enjoy bountiful fertile land, little pollution, blue clean oceans swamped with fish, and tropical temperature year round. I have test marketed the food we grow in these islands and found it to be as good and acceptable as the food grown anywhere else. Our fruits can compete with the fruit from any other country. The fish caught in our oceans will bring good market prices. Animals raised in these islands are healthy and grow strong quickly.

Because I have always believed this to be true is the main reason a group of us has formed Arctic Circle Air to motivate farmers to produce and export their fruits and vegetable. Already we have found buyers eager to purchase the fruits and vegetable grown in our islands. All we have to do now is to grow them.

About a week ago, I entertained a visitor from China. He was a former director of the Yellow Sea fisheries Research Institute and Chinese Academy of Fishery Sciences. He has studied and worked with fisheries and agriculture for over fifty years. In addition he has written a number of scholarly books and articles on the subjects.

As I toured him around Saipan and on our waters in the lagoon, he remarked to me a most interesting statement:

“I have traveled to over fifty countries but I have not found such clear and bountiful ocean and blue sky. Your land is so fertile and can grow many good crops and fruits. Why aren’t the people here doing more of these activities?”

This statement convinced me more that ever that if we begin to cultivate our natural resources, we will regain a prosperous economy and put many of our people to work producing food for our tables and for export.

Why are we importing frozen chicken, beef and pork when we can easily grow our own and enjoy them fresh, not frozen? Why do we insist on importing much of our fresh fruits and vegetables when we can so abundantly grow them here? Think of all the money that would be paid to our local farmers and stay in our islands to circulate helping us better.

By localizing our growth of the various food items, our community will take on a new meaning. Every Saturday at the Sabalu Farmers Market, I notice that so many of the customers find time to chat with the farmer from whom they are buying their products. I also notice how more friendly people are as they roam from stall to stall. There seems to be a feeling of localization and congeniality.

By creating an environment for sustainable agriculture in all of the above mentioned areas, three main goals will be achieved: environmental health, economic profitability, and social and economic equity. These goals can be met if we create the will and determination to become the food basket for ourselves as well as for our neighbors.

I have frequently mentioned about the almost infinite possibilities for growing fruits, vegetable, fish and animals in our beautiful islands. But we seem to have lost this desire for farming and fishing some time ago. Years ago most of us grew accustomed to working for the government and as a result spent less time farming and fishing. This habit has continued down to today. As a result we are living on a false economy as virtually nothing is being produced or manufactured today. We insist on importing most of our daily necessities. Do we wonder why we are in an economic depression?

No, I am not sermonizing about the good old days. I am merely asking us to consider what we have under our feet and how it can help us regain a better economic status. The simple economic fact is that we are importing more than we can afford and are employing more people than we need in our government.

Perhaps what I am suggesting above will not return us fully to the economic strength we desire, but we will eat better and will enjoy our lives better. Our land will be better utilized and our pride will be stronger. It will be a start towards a better life.

Let me relate a cute story about a farmer busy in his fields when a preacher passed by. The preacher was impressed with the beauty of the farm and with all the crops growing there. So he stopped and said to the farmer: “God has been good to you to bless you with such a wonderful farm.”

The farmer stopped his work, wiped his perspiring brow and remarked: “I beg your pardon, preacher, but you should have seen what it looked like when God gave this farm to me.” With that he turned and went back to work.

Remember to keep SMILING! It is the best way to show someone that we care. Have a great week! And keep SMILING! Better days are ahead!

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Pellegrino is a longtime businessman in the CNMI and is the former president of the Saipan Chamber of Commerce.