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Abstract
Nandwani,
D., L. Duponcheel and R. Manglona. 2007. Sustainable agriculture practices in
the Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas Islands. JEMREST 3:53-58.
DOI:
10.4029/2007jemrest3no16
The Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas Islands
consists of a group of islands in the west pacific. Commercial agriculture
exists in three main islands Saipan, Rota and Tinian
at small-scale. Saipan and Tinian are the major producer of vegetables,
fruits and corn mainly for domestic market while taro, sweet potato, yams and
cassava are the main crops predominate for island of Rota.
Soil and other growing conditions are favorable, however, typhoons, limited
available water resources, marketing of products and the high cost of
imported fertilizers are some of the barriers in the agriculture production.
Most of the farms are subsistence in nature contribute to the local economy
and income generation for the farmers and provide food security to the
islands. Adverse environmental impacts due to excessive chemicals and poor
farming practices are major threats and could possibly contribute to the
contamination of ground-water resources and loss of soils. These conditions
impose a tremendous responsibility on the farming community to consider
sustainable farming practices to improve the economics of the farming
operation while simultaneously encouraging environmental stewardship on the
farm and in the community. Government and Land Grant department have
significantly delivered several research and extension programs including
insect pests and plant disease to improve the sustainable farming practices
in the Commonwealth in recent years.
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