He said this can be done through a cooperative that will be governed by marketing agreements.
“Forming a farmers cooperative would enable our local lancheros to market agricultural products more effectively at the least cost possible,” he said.
Camacho, one of the prime movers of the Farmers Support Group, said the cooperative could be engaged in activities dealing with assembling, handling, grading, packing, processing, preserving, transporting, financing and distributing the island’s local agriculture products or by-products.
He said the cooperative could also be involved in obtaining capital and financing for equipment and facilities through grants, donations, direct public financing and tax credits.
As a cooperative, he added, the local farmers would be in a better position to negotiate favorable insurance.
“The cooperative may also be authorized to issue revolving fund certificates for the purpose of raising capital funds among farmers who enter into marketing agreements with the farmer cooperative,” he said.
After paying for expenses, he said, the board of directors of the cooperative may issue dividends to those with marketing agreements.
He said the cooperative profit may be also invested in fertilizers, seeds, pesticides and equipment for distribution at nominal cost to the participating farmers.
Camacho said the municipal council will be actively involved in the upcoming agriculture fair in May.
This, he added, is part of their efforts “to…help our local lancheros on Saipan establish a sustainable market at home and on Guam for the short-term and in Asian countries in the long run.”
