The vast farmland located across from the existing commercial farm plots has been sitting idle for years because the government has yet to resolve an issue about its use.
Known as the Palacios pasture because it was originally leased to the late Francisco T. Palacios for cattle grazing, the land has stirred the interest of many locals who also want to farm.
Agriculturist Isidoro T. Cabrera said there is a long list of local residents applying for commercial farm plots, and some of them have been waiting for four years now.
The lack of an irrigation system, however, is preventing the opening of the Palacios pasture to those who want to lease commercial farm plots.
Some lawmakers have proposed to turn the pasture into a park, but this was opposed by many local residents and farmers.
In an interview on Friday, Agriculture Director Richard Seman said opening 17 farm plots in the area is among the various projects identified in the five-year strategic agricultural plan that the farmers support group will prioritize this year.
The two other projects will be the formation of a farmers cooperative and the re-opening of the slaughterhouse in As Perdido.
Due to the islands’ economic challenges, many residents are now resorting to farming, he added.
Seman expressed hope that local agriculture can get funding from the federal stimulus package so they can finally complete the Kagman watershed project and lease more farm plots to residents.
The CNMI government is also working on an alternative irrigation system — the reactivation of the old 100,000-gallon water reservoir — that can help activate the Palacios farm.
Seman said this locally funded initiative includes the installation of new pipe lines and booster tank as well as the repair of a water pump.
