Ayuyu, Ind.-Rota in an interview on Wednesday said agriculture is one of the promising industries that could help the CNMI economy bounce back so it is just right to help farmers cope with increasing costs of tilling the land.
He said utility cost is among the challenges NMI farmers face today.
Ayuyu, a Rota farmer who chairs the Senate Committee on Public Utilities, Transportation & Communication requested CPUC to establish a new water tariff for the Commonwealth Utilities Corp.
“It is important to assist the commercial farming industry as it is one of the CNMI’s few revenue generating industries,” Ayuyu told the commission.
He also said that the produce and livestock provided by this industry offer a healthier alternative to the many imported products.
Farming, he added, is in the best interest of the CNMI so incentives must be made to assist it.
“I am proposing that the CUC create an agricultural water usage rate for commercial farmers and ranchers in the CNMI,” Ayuyu said, adding that by creating such special rate, CUC will cut the cost of commercial farming. This, he said translates to lower prices of locally produced fresh commodities, thus, savings to consumers.
Ayuyu noted that Guam has set up an agricultural water rate to assist farmers and ranchers who pay only $2.54 per thousand gallons of water. This is much lower than residential rate which is $6.13.
A law codified as 4CMC Sec. 8429 allows CPUC to give farmers and ranchers an advantage so they can improve CNMI’s agriculture.
Also, 4CMC Sec. 8182 authorizes CUC to set agricultural water usage rates for commercial farmers and ranchers at 25 cents per 1,000 gallons of water in areas with 24 hour water service.
Ayuyu reminded CPUC the law applies such special rate to qualified farmers and ranchers who have business license.
The senator also asked CPUC to make the Northern Marianas College’s Cooperative Research Extension and Education Service eligible because it helps farmers and ranchers a lot.
