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Farmers await govt help over damaged crops
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Posted on Aug 20 2004
Almost two months after Typhoon Tingting devastated Saipan’s agricultural crops, close to a hundred local farmers are still waiting for government assistance.
The farmers want the CNMI government to assist them through the provision of vouchers, which could be tendered in stores to buy seeds, fertilizers, pesticides, and other agricultural supplies.
The Department of Lands and Natural Resources and the Northern Marianas College’s Cooperative Research Education and Extension Service is asking the Saipan Legislative Delegation to appropriate monies to fund the vouchers for some 88 commercial farmers on the island, according to CREES’ agricultural consultant Isidoro T. Cabrera.
The extent of damage on Saipan’s agricultural crops has already reached some $518,000, Cabrera said. The final assessment has yet to be completed.
He said Tingting destroyed vegetable crops, such as eggplant, bell pepper, tomato, bitter gourd, and okra. Tingting also knocked down about 90 percent of Saipan’s banana trees and heavily destroyed root crops such as yam.
Cabrera said many farmers did not avail of small-interest loans from the U.S. Small Business Administration, citing the farmers’ limited repayment capability.
“I just hope that the Legislature will come out with some form of assistance for our local farmers affected by Typhoon Tingting,” Cabrera said.
He said some farmers already met with House Rep. Arnold Palacios, whom they expect to initiate the necessary legislation to assist them.
