THE House Committee on Natural Resources has recommended the passage of a measure to establish an agriculture equipment service revolving fund within the Division of Agriculture.
In a recent report submitted to House Speaker Heinz S. Hofschneider, R-Saipan, the committee said H.B. 13-80, or the CNMI Agriculture Equipment Revolving Fund Program Act of 2002, introduced by Reps. Arnold I. Palacios, R-Saipan, and Pedro P. Castro, R-Saipan, will further help the division in promoting the sustainability of the local agricultural industry.
The committee noted that the division continues to assist local farmers by providing equipment services. However, fees being charged for such services are “not redirected” to the division which could use them for equipment maintenance, repair, fuel and lubrication.
The division only has $62,000 fund for the maintenance of equipment service which is also spent for the agency’s other vehicles and equipment, according to the committee.
The panel said that there is currently no funding dedicated for the maintenance or purchase of agricultural equipment.
By establishing a revolving fund, “funding will be readily available for the upkeep of agricultural equipment, for new equipment purchases and assure that equipment services provided by the division would be available for our local farmers,” the report said.
