With $8,550 earmarked for the division’s non-personnel costs for FY 2009, Dela Cruz said he does not think Agriculture can still afford to operate its equipment and extension services.
Agriculture’s equipment services help local farmers till their commercial farm plots, but it has to be suspended last year due to malfunctioning tractors and rising fuel costs.
The division has two tractors but both are non-operational.
Over the past few months, more than 30 farmers in Kagman have been using a tractor from the Public School System.
Agriculture’s extension services which help educate the farmers on pesticides and other crop care means, was suspended about five years ago, Dela Cruz added.
Agriculture is DLNR’s biggest division and includes quarantine inspection, forestry and animal health.
Local farmers are currently maintaining their plots using their own hand-held tillers.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Farm Service Agency, for its part, provides assistance to farmers in the form of loans.
Samson Palacios, the county representative of USDA’s Farm Service Agency on Tinian, said local farmers can borrow up to $100,000.
USDA’s Natural Resource Conservation Services also offers an environmental quality incentive program that helps farmers improve and enhance their plots.
NRCS’ acting district conservationist, Pam Aguon, said they provide technical assistance to local farmers.
With regards to extension services, Northern Marianas College’s Cooperative Research, Extension and Education Service has been helping local farmers.
Dela Cruz said local farmers can apply for USDA assistance.
