Manglona: Sinlaku, Bavi devastated CNMI crops, farmers struggle to recover

Super typhoons Sinlaku and Bavi devastated the CNMI's agricultural production, leaving local farmers struggling to recover and consumers paying higher prices for imported fruits and vegetables.

Glenn Manglona, president of the Kagman Agricultural Farms and Producers Association, said the two storms wiped out much of the islands' agricultural production, forcing businesses to rely more heavily on imported produce.

“What was left was finished by Bavi,” Manglona said during his presentation at the Rotary Club of Saipan's regular meeting last Oct. 13 at Crowne Plaza Resort & Spa Saipan, referring to the crops that survived Sinlaku.

Manglona also announced that his association has undertaken a fruit survey to identify crops currently grown in the CNMI and determine what additional fruit varieties residents would like farmers to introduce.

He said the survey would help farmers plan future production while supporting efforts to promote local fruits and traditional foods to residents and tourists.

Manglona encouraged residents to participate in the survey, which asks what fruits are available locally and what other varieties they would like to see grown in the CNMI.

He said the association, whose members have more than 400 years of combined farming and livestock-raising experience, has the expertise to grow additional varieties.

Manglona said the survey results would be analyzed and shared with the community and the association's partners. Participation is confidential, and respondents are not required to disclose their names or the locations of their farms.

Returning to the damage caused by Sinlaku and Bavi, Manglona said local agricultural production remains far from normal, with vegetables being flown in from Korea to make up for shortages.

He said prices of some imported produce increased three to four times following the storms because of transportation and other costs.

The damage has also affected the availability of young coconuts, with Manglona estimating that local coconut drinks may not be readily available for another year.

Other crops, including sweet potatoes, cassava, taro, and yams, require several months to mature, making recovery particularly difficult for farmers whose livelihoods depend on their harvests.

Manglona said the CNMI has approximately 700 farmers, including backyard growers, but only about 150 regularly produce food for local consumers.

He said farmers also face difficulties securing equipment, rebuilding damaged growing facilities, and obtaining sufficient government assistance.

According to Manglona, the federal government invests an estimated $4 million annually in agricultural support across the CNMI, while local government investment is considerably smaller.

He estimated local government support at about $100,000, including personnel, equipment services, and the farmers market.

“We want to see our government invest more in the production of fruits and vegetables,” he said.

Manglona said greater investment in local agriculture would help reduce dependence on imported produce and make food more affordable.

He explained that unlike salaried employees who receive regular paychecks, farmers sometimes wait up to a year before earning income from their crops.

Taro takes approximately nine to 12 months to mature, cassava about seven months, and yams as long as 12 months or more.

Manglona said federal assistance remains important, particularly through programs of the U.S. Department of Agriculture that help farmers obtain equipment, construct growing facilities, and improve production.

He said some farmers whose high-tunnel growing structures were destroyed by the storms may qualify for federal assistance to rebuild them.

Manglona also emphasized the importance of producing traditional foods locally, saying the CNMI should strengthen its agricultural sector rather than continue depending heavily on expensive imports.

He encouraged residents to support local farmers by purchasing their produce at the farmers market.