Study on to improve vegie production in NMI

With local markets being flooded by frozen and imported agricultural produce, work is now underway to improve local farming in fresh efforts to increase vegetable production in the Northern Marianas.

Agriculture experts from the Northern Marianas College-CNMI Cooperative Research, Extension and Education Services 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 Department of Land and Natural Resources, 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.

Local farmers, who will be responsible for the cultivation of their own land, will play a major role in the research. CREES will provide them with the seedlings which they will grow and harvest for their own use or livelihood.

In order to gauge the effectiveness of the method used, the farmers will be required to cooperate with researchers in the measurement and recording of yields.

Officials said the involvement of farmers in the research project will educate them about other possibilities to improve their yields, thus, increasing their potential earnings.

CREES researchers, headed by NMC Extension Agent II Marcelo Romolor, have put up a nursery to grow vegetable seedlings in plastic trays in order to transfer the plants into farm fields in the Northern Marianas.

Seedlings are currently being grown with the supervision of NMC vegetable specialist Dr. Craig Smith.

Disheartened by recent hardships experienced by the local tourism and apparel industries, the Tenorio Administration created a special government body tasked to develop ways that will help improve the productivity of local farmers and fishermen.

The Committee on Agriculture, Fisheries and Aquaculture have been continuously exploring all possible ways to fast-track moves that would develop and improve the Commonwealth’s agriculture potentials.

Despite its rich water resources, the CNMI is consistently importing more fish products from other Micronesian and Asian countries.

The Department of Commerce noted an increasing trend in the importation of fish products since 1990 though figures dropped in 1996 to 410,690 pounds from 515,900 pounds in 1995.

This, in spite of the Central and Western Pacific Ocean, where the NMI is situated, being home to the world’s largest tuna fishery, which is currently worth approximately $1.7 billion.