DA releases report on crop assessment

By MARIAN A. MARAYA

Staff Reporter

At least two species of crops were wiped out as a result of typhoon Saomai’s recent visit while a few other plant species barely survived the natural calamity, the Division of Agriculture reported.

Based on a post-storm survey conducted on Kagman commercial farm plots and five other farms on Saipan, acting Division of Agriculture Director Stan Villagomez noted a zero survival rate for crops such as “petsai” and winter squash while 73 percent of all locally-grown Japanese melons and tomatoes were also destroyed.

“Tomatoes are very sensitive to too much water that when exposed, they react and most of them will die out. This also goes for too much sun, the leaves usually burn,” Mr. Villagomez explained.

The division completed last week a crop damage assessment report which contains data on the survival percentage of different crop species after the tropical storm, qualified based on a unique formula adopted from the Farm Services Agency.

Plant species surveyed by the division included bitter melon, pumpkin, eggplant, hot pepper, petsai, cucumber, tomato, lufta gourd, sweet potato, yam, papaya, wing beans, string beans, swamp cabbage, okra, Chinese cabbage, banana, Kentucky beans, winter squash, lemon, Japanese melons, and long squash.

Crops that were left unharmed despite almost a week-long exposure to gusty winds and heavy rains were the pumpkin, eggplant, sweet potato, and Kentucky beans, according to the division’s report.

“Some of them did not receive any damages based on the survey that we did and the equation we used to compute the damage survival percentage,” Mr. Villagomez said.

The report, which has been submitted to the Department of Lands and Natural Resources acting Secretary Eugene Santos, will also be transmitted to Governor Pedro P. Tenorio for review.

According to Mr. Villagomez, it would be up to the governor to make a determination on whether or not there is a need to declare a “disaster” on Saipan’s locally-grown crops, based on figures collected.

“But by the looks of it, the percentage of survival is quite high. Due to the storm, most areas were flooded but some crops that were gripped with too much water had good soil drainage so the impact was not fatal,” he said.

He added that negative effects of the recent tropical storm on Saipan’s plants compared to past natural disasters were very minimal.

“It’s almost like a minor storm passed by,” he said.

The division is also awaiting decision from the governor on whether it is necessary for Saipan farm owners to seek federal assistance due to damages on their crops.