House appeals to feds on crop insurance

The House of Representatives has formally requested the U.S. Department of Agriculture to extend a federal crop insurance program to the CNMI, citing the need to assist local farmers and ranchers.

In endorsing the move, the Committee on Health and Welfare said a mechanism to protect local crops and investment by farmers must be in place in order to encourage development of agriculture industry on the islands.

HR 12-63, sponsored by Rep. William S. Torres, called on the USDA through August Schumacher, undersecretary of farm and foreign service, to implement the program here, which is similar to the assistance provided to all farmers across the nation.

This is consistent with the desires of the House to assist our farmers and ranchers in protecting their crop investment through the national crop insurance program, according to the committee.

Mr. Torres has initiated in recent months steps to develop the farm sector, noting that farming, grazing and fishing used to be staple preoccupation of the indigenous people.

Giving assistance to local people engaged in the agri-business would help boost the sector and ensure food sufficiency of the CNMI.

The once-prosperous industry, which relied on copra and sugar production before the war, failed to recover during the last several years as it had become at best a subsistence livelihood for most of the island residents.

Mr. Torres cited two recent studies, including an economic outlook on the CNMI prepared by the Northern Marianas College, which have considered the sector an alternative to the ailing tourism industry and future pullout of the garment manufacturers.

The national crop insurance program will enable the farmers and ranchers to obtain sufficient security, while lowering the risks associated with production and farm yield, according to the resolution.

Last June, Mr. Torres met with other U.S. agriculture officials in which they discussed mechanics of the Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance Program or NAP for local farmers.

The aid program will provide financial assistance to producers of crops and commodities affected by natural disaster such as drought and typhoon.

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.