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Cooperation needed among farmers, ranchers
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- Hogs raised by local lancherus were on display in last Saturday’s 33rd Saipan and Northern Islands Agricultural Fair at the Garapan Fishing Base near the Public Market. (Photos by Jon Perez)
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- Staff from the Community Guidance Center’s Crisis Counseling Program give out free shaved ice treats to everyone who attended the Agricultural Fair.
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- Saipan and Northern Islands Fair Association and Municipal Council member Reina Camacho, left, was last Saturday’s host.
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- Two-year-old Amelie Ogumoro enjoys playing inside the tractor.
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- Ornamental plants were also on display in the Agri Fair.
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- A spectator checks out the local fruits and vegetables.
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- Two cows get comfortable inside their cage. Bulls, cows, chickens, boars, pigs, and goats were also on display.
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- Vaniqa Torres pets one of the cows on display at the Agri Fair.
Gov. Ralph DLG Torres emphasized the importance of cooperation among local farmers and ranchers in order to find solutions to the problems that they face. The governor was the keynote speaker in last Saturday’s 33rd Saipan and Northern Islands Agricultural Fair.
The Garapan Fishing Base, right beside the Garapan Public Market, was filled with different types of fruits and vegetables, various livestock, and farm equipment for the community to see the products that the local agricultural industry is showcasing.
Torres said that helping each other would minimize the challenges that every farmer and rancher is facing. “We should continue raising local produce but we have to each other. It would minimize the challenges if we help each other and work together.”
“I’ve always been a firm believer of the produce that we grow. That’s why if you have a neighbor who is a farmer and they are having a hard time getting water for their crops, help them,” said Torres.
He added that he’s been a firm believer of produce that is grown locally. “Take pride of the produce that we grow. Take pride of what you provide to all the hotels and restaurants, and to your families.”
Torres said that farming and ranching was part of his growing up years together with his siblings. “We’re five boys and we had one sister, farming has been part of our lives growing up. We grew up raising pigs, goats, cows, and ducks. It was our way of life, it was our chores and we enjoy it.”
Torres added that they continue to raise livestock and farming. “The whole thing here is to appreciate agriculture, our land, and our water. By doing so, we stay away from pesticides, not healthy for us.”
Saipan Mayor David M. Apatang also lauded the efforts done by all farmers and lancherus. “This is an annual event and we’re all lucky that everything is going back to normal now. We see now a lot of local fruits and vegetables on display.”
“Thank you to all the farmers and ranchers. They are back to their usual job of providing local produce to the community. This is a nice event that not only showcases locally grown vegetables and fruits but also livestock.”
Apatang also congratulated the organizing committee for another successful staging of the Agri Fair. “The Saipan Mayor’s Office has been one of the strongest supporters of this event. Our support staff had been helping the organizing committee every year.”
“Congratulations again to all the members of the organizing community. Let’s support local farmers and their produce.”
Rep. John Paul Sablan (R-Saipan), the Saipan and Northern Islands Legislative Delegation chairman, and Reps. Angel Demapan (R-Saipan) and Joseph Leepan Guerrero (R-Saipan), Department of Lands and Natural Resources acting secretary Manny Pangelinan, Northern Marianas College-Cooperative Research Extension and Education Service’s Dean Tim Kock, and U.S. Department of Agriculture Farm Service Agency for Guam executive director Tom Camacho were also present.
