Kagman farmers earlier approached Laolao Bay management for help.
The resort’s golf course superintendent Tom McKenzie and security operations manager Greg Camacho yesterday said their management agreed to let the local farmers use one of their tractors, a rotovator, and a rough-cut mower.
The Division of Agriculture’s two tractors have been down for years now, prompting the Department of Lands and Natural Resources to suspend the division’s equipment services.
This left most of the farmers with no means to till their plots.
Municipal Council Vice Chairman Ray Blas Camacho and three other Kagman farmers have their own tractors which the other farmers rent.
But since they also have their own plots to plow, attending to the needs of 28 other farmers has been very difficult, Camacho said.
Last week, McKenzie got the approval of Laolao Bay Golf Resort president Yun Kim and general manager Tatsuya Matsunaga to allow the farmers to rent their 40-horsepower Ford C45.
McKenzie said Laolao Bay resort always want to help the community.
He said they want to help all farmers on Saipan but transporting the equipment to other farms on island will be very impractical.
Agriculture Director Richard Seman has notified the farmers that equipment services are now available, but due to lack of trailer that can transport the tractor to other farms on the island, it cannot go beyond Kagman.
The tractor will be available from Monday to Friday, 8 a.m., to 11 a.m.
Farmers will be charged the usual $20 fee per hour.
The payment, Seman said, will go directly to Laolao Bay resort.
McKenzie said the fees will pay for fuel and the services of the operator.
