Tinian municipal govt targets noni industry

Tinian Mayor Jose San Nicolas wants to make his municipality the CNMI’s agricultural center through the development of a noni industry that will export the world-renowned health product to Japan.

Tinian is in the process of developing noni farms that will have an estimated aggregate area of 200 to 250 hectares. At this stage, some Japanese companies are reportedly already communicating with the mayor’s office regarding the purchase of noni products.

Dr. Thomas D. Arkle, the mayor’s special consultant for resource development, said the island’s chief executive sees the worldwide popularity of noni as a health supplement as another revenue generating project for Tinian, notwithstanding the influx of multi-million-dollar casino investments and the possible relocation of Marine troops from Okinawa, Japan, to the island.

“Currently, the largest single noni farm in the Pacific is in Hawaii—some 200 acres. While Tinian is not generally useful for a single large farm of that nature, we are in the process of developing approximately 200 to 250 hectares of noni plants. We have about 50,000 noni seedlings already in the early stage of growth,” Arkle said.

“These will be used to assist local farmers, homesteaders and any other person to develop their own ‘mini-plantation.’ Through development of a ‘new Tinian Farmer’s and Fisherman’s market, we will guarantee a market for the noni fruit,” Arkle added.

Arkle disclosed that Japanese consumers have already been communicating with the Tinian mayor’s office regarding noni products.

“The Japanese market is currently demanding an additional 60 forty-foot containers each month of noni products (in addition to what they already consume). Tinian has been asked to gear up to produce as much noni as possible. We have already been approached by at least two other Japanese processors asking for raw noni juice in the amount of tons per month,” Arkle disclosed.

Within two years, Tinian wants to come up with finished noni products such as ready-to-drink mixed juices and herbal supplements.

Arkle said the municipality is currently developing regulations that will not only ensure the viability of the projects but also the safety of noni products to consumers.

He said the mayor’s office has already met with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the Division of Environmental Quality regarding pesticide safety and residue sampling. Testing for residue and compliance will be done in Hawaii.

Arkle assured that all noni products on Tinian will have to meet the requirements of the EPA and the DEQ, as well as other regulatory agencies, including the federal Food and Drug Administration and CNMI agencies such as the CNMI departments of Finance, Commerce, and Lands and Natural Resources, as well as the Bureau of Environmental Health.

“We will also be encouraging the production of many other crops suitable for Tinian,” Arkle said. “We will also be implementing a slaughterhouse and its associated feed-lot and pasture land management, juice processing facility and general produce outlets.”

He said the Northern Marianas College’s Cooperative Research Education Extension Service is working with the Tinian municipality in the island’s agricultural development.