Camacho, himself a farmer, said the expert could be from the Department of Commerce or the Commonwealth Development Authority.
He said the expert must have experience in agriculture-based economic development, industry forecasting and branding so he or she can “help farmers identify markets outside of the CNMI.”
The expert must also have experience in working with farm cooperatives and must be knowledgeable about quarantine and freight issues.
“One of the most urgent tasks for this interim executive czar is to work closely with the Commonwealth Utilities Corp. and the water conservation program of the U.S. Department of Agriculture in carrying the full extent of the local law on water, and to explore sufficient water resources for farming, including finding innovative techniques in water conservation in conjunction with USDA and other affiliate agencies like the United States Geologic Survey,” Camacho said.
He noted that the concerns discussed during the two agriculture summits have not been addressed. These include pest management, agriculture workforce, exports, government regulations, alternative farming, military assistance and the creation of a cooperative.
