HAGÅTÑA (The Guam Daily Post) — Officials are putting together the island’s first agriculture master plan, and they want to hear from farmers, entrepreneurs and the community as a whole to develop the living document.
The Guam Department of Agriculture said the master plan will guide economic development and food sustainability efforts, serving as a long-term guide for agriculture projects, policies and regulations, according to a press release from DOAG.
For a long time, the island has relied heavily on tourism to support the community, but it became apparent to local leaders during the COVID-19 pandemic that eggs needed to be placed in different baskets – like agriculture.
The plan is titled Harvesting Sustainability, Cultivating Prosperity, and DOAG is “thrilled” to get started on the “ambitious effort.”
“In today’s evolving agricultural sector, the need for strategic planning and sustainable development has never been more critical,” the department said.
A living document, DOAG said they will revisit the plan with community updates to keep it relevant to revolutionize the agricultural landscape by promoting sustainable regenerative practices and enhancing productivity.
The plan will look at factors locally and globally to foster economic prosperity for farmers, entrepreneurs and communities.
“Factors such as climate change, resource scarcity and shifting consumer preferences pose significant challenges to food security and agricultural sustainability. Additionally, recognizing that, as an island, we need to reduce our dependence on imports, the Leon Guerrero-Tenorio administration acknowledges the importance of proactive measures to address these challenges and build a resilient agricultural system for the future,” the release said.
In this initial phase of development, DOAG project contractor EKNA Services Inc. will be holding community meetings to gather input.
The public is invited to attend and share their insight into Guam’s agriculture industry.
The meetings will be held Wednesday, April 17 from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the Farmers’ Cooperative Association of Guam facility and Thursday, April 18 from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the Inalåhan mayor’s office.
The Guam Department of Agriculture office is seen on Wednesday, Aug. 30, 2023, in Mangilao.
