In an interview yesterday, Camacho said he and other farmers will meet in the next few weeks to discuss the suspension of the division’s equipment services.
Department of Lands and Natural Resources Secretary Ignacio Dela Cruz earlier disclosed that the equipment services of the division had been suspended due to rising fuel costs and malfunctioning tractors.
The equipment and extension services had to remain suspended, Dela Cruz added, because the proposed budget for them amounted to only $8,550 and is not enough.
But Camach o said suspending the equipment service will result in the waste of government assets because Agriculture’s two tractors will end up “eaten by rust.”
He said the tractors should be repaired, which should not cost more than $1,000.
Based on what he learned from Agriculture, the tractors needed a few parts only which are not expensive and not difficult to find, Camacho said.
He said of the over 30 local farmers leasing Kagman commercial farm plots, only five own a tractor.
They do not want see tractors sitting idle while many farmers are in dire need of them.
Camacho said there is supposed to be $8,500 collected from farm land leases that are available.
“Why not use that?” he asked.
He expressed doubt if all farmers can secure loans from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Farm Service Agency.
He said it’s impractical for the farmers to apply for loans when they are having a hard time selling their produce.
To help farmers, the municipal council, he noted, has initiated the creation a farmers support group composes of representatives from the council, Northern Marianas College-Cooperative Research, Extension and Education Service and DLNR.
