Charles Aisem sits in front of hot pepper plants at the Division of Agriculture facility in Kagman.
CHARLES Aiseam, program coordinator for the Division of Agriculture’s Specialty Crop Block Grant Program, said commercial farmers and backyard gardeners can receive no-cost seedlings grown at the Division of Agriculture’s Kagman facility, adjacent to Chacha Road.
“If you’re someone residing in Saipan and you want to farm or just grow, check us out and get seedlings,” Aiseam said. “Right now, we’re germinating, propagating, and also giving [plants] away at the same time.”
Aiseam said the program he oversees is dedicated to improving crop production of farmers in the Marianas. In the past, the Division of Agriculture has given away chili peppers, tomato, calamansi, soursop, bitter melon, papaya, eggplant, and many other vegetable or fruit seedlings.
“Whatever we have available we can provide that for them,” Aiseam said.
Interested individuals can call him at (670) 285-3319 to inquire about available fruits and vegetables.
Aiseam said the number of seedlings he gives away is limited by the space a commercial farmer has on his or her farm. When he gives seedlings to commercial farmers, Aiseam said he will also request access to the plants to collect data, which will be reported to grantors at the U.S. Department of Agriculture. But personal data is not collected, he said.
Backyard gardeners can also receive free seedlings, Aiseam said, but added that because their space and farming experience are likely not as expansive as commercial farmers, backyard gardeners typically will not receive as many seedlings as commercial farmers.
Aiseam also invites feedback from farmers regarding the kinds of plants that the Division of Agriculture should grow.
For example, he said the Red Lady variety of papayas currently growing in the Kagman facility were selected for propagation based on the recommendation of participating farmers.
He said the eggplants grown at the Division of Agriculture were also selected because commercial farmers requested them.
The program can also help commercial farmers ship seeds to Saipan, Aiseam said.
“We get a…permit with [the Division of Customs and Quarantine] and they will allow us to ship in as many seeds as we can,” he added.
Aiseam said the Division of Agriculture can germinate and grow the seeds into the seedling stage for farmers.
