If one follows current events, it’s clear that the world is in terrible shape — financially, politically, and environmentally. The U.S. and Europe are teetering on the brink of financial collapse; Japan’s economy, agriculture and fishing industries have taken a huge hit: most of their food is no longer safe to eat. Many Japanese residents are desperately trying to buy “old” rice, because it is free of radioactive contamination. But there is no more old rice.
If the economy of the U.S. collapses under its trillions of debt, the CNMI will be caught short. Prices will skyrocket and citizens of the commonwealth — already subject to a high cost of living — will face greater challenges as the price of everything goes up. Those who are on food stamps will become the hardest hit.
Therefore, it is urgent that the resources of the CNMI be mobilized to increase its agricultural production, as well as its seafood and fishing industries. The commonwealth needs to set a goal for self-sufficiency in food, so that, if need be, as least we will be able to feed ourselves, without reliance on outside sources.
Considering the amount of arable land and favorable growing climate, feeding ourselves ought to be possible, but experts are needed, and they are needed soon.
Initially, there needs to be an assessment of land available for farming, and which crops will do well. Second, there needs to be a source of labor to work with existing farmers to help increase production. Third, there needs to be distribution channels, so the fresh food can be brought to the various markets around the island, and perhaps sold to other areas. Fourth, the farm workers will need to be paid, either in cash, food, or a combination of both.
On a smaller scale, individual families and communities can start growing their own vegetables, even in their back yards or on vacant community plots. As before, what is needed is local leadership to spearhead these new farms. If a few neighbors and their kids pitch in, a garden bearing fruits and vegetables will be the reward.
If you Google “Food Is the New Gold” you will get 393 million hits. This is a major story to which few pay attention, but it is real. The Washington Post had a story a few months ago entitled, “The Biggest Need, the Fewest Resources.” There is a map of the world with the legend, “Regions most reliant on imported food are least able to afford it.”
The CNMI was not listed, but we are, at the moment, heavily dependent on imported food. If economic times were better, this might not be a concern. But the world situation is becoming increasingly unstable and, if we are wise, we will not only turn to agriculture for ourselves, but as a source of revenue for the future.
As stated, the Japanese rice crops are contaminated and are no longer safe. If the CNMI farmers could begin to grow, and ship, rice to Japan, it would provide a boost to our economy. As well, Japan needs a variety of clean food, and is a ready market for produce, rice, fish and shrimp that our island either now produces, or can produce within the next few months.
Considering the amount of open land in the CNMI, attaining a degree of self-sufficiency within a year or two should be possible. Most food crops grow within 3-6 months and then can be harvested. Establishing some rice paddies would also be very wise since most of the people here eat rice. And while growing rice is not rocket science, it does require expertise and skilled growers.
The CNMI also grows a wide variety of fruits (papayas, mangoes, pineapples, soursop, bananas, etc.) that can not only help to sustain life here, but can be exported — provided there is enough product to sell. And, although the fruits that are grown here are not harvested in a systematic way, they could be. That is, a landowner with a few mango trees could profit from selling the fruit. As we know, a lot of fruit falls to the ground, where it decays, uneaten.
At the present time, the CNMI government employs many “nonessentials.” It might be wise to keep these people temporarily on the payroll, and send them off to the fields to work with the farmers. If the CNMI taxpayers are paying their salaries, then we might ask them to become “essential” and help to increase the food supply. There is nothing more essential than food.
At a time when many government officials are hoping that a casino will ease the financial burden of the CNMI, I would ask them to turn their attention to our commonwealth’s number one challenge: to make sure its citizens have enough to eat. This is an attainable goal, one that Rota has nearly achieved; but then their population is small and there are many farms. In the past, the U.S. Department of Agriculture has been extremely helpful to these islands. Perhaps Congressman Kilili Sablan can initiate talks with the USDA about helping to create incentives for new agricultural initiatives. Our survival may depend on it.
What the commonwealth has often lacked is leadership with vision; the ability to foresee a problem and take steps to avoid it, long before the problem manifests. There is no greater need for vision than today; and the CNMI must take steps to increase its food supply or be caught tragically short in the months and years to come.
An educator, the author resides in Oleai, Saipan.
