Ambrosio "Ambi" Alubia, a longstanding Rota-based farmer, has recently taken significant steps towards incorporating regenerative agriculture into his farming portfolio. In June 2023, he participated in the Northern Marianas College’s Cooperative Research, Extension, and Education Services’ Regenerative Agriculture Workshop designed for commercial farmers. Following this workshop, he expressed his intention to engage in the application process for commercial farmer's regenerative agriculture technical assistance.
Alubia, who has been actively involved in farming on Rota since 1992, is known for selling his produce locally on the island and exporting to Saipan and Guam. His decision to explore regenerative agriculture is a response to his growing interest in sustainable farming practices.
Reflecting on his experience, Alubia stated, "I've actively participated in NMC workshops in the past, but I am especially excited about initiating a new farm plot for Regenerative Ag/Agroforestry in collaboration with NMC-CREES."
Alubia also encouraged fellow farmers and prospective agricultural enthusiasts to consider the workshops and services offered by NMC-CREES, highlighting the expertise of Dr. Craig Elevitch, a Regenerative Agriculture expert, and Jesse Deleon Guerrero, an Agroforestry & Nutrition Security Extension Agent.
Alubia's new regenerative agriculture plot is set to include a variety of crops such as hot pepper, tomato, avocado, dragon fruit, calamansi, papaya, daikon radish, buckwheat, and cover crops, with the goal of optimizing regenerative farming practices.
Regenerative Agriculture offers several advantages, including the potential for improved crop yields and crop quality, increased resilience against market fluctuations and extreme weather conditions, as well as the capacity to sequester carbon and enhance nitrogen management while maintaining profitability.
Ambrosio "Ambi" Alubia's decision to incorporate commercial regenerative agriculture into his farming endeavors underscores a growing interest in sustainable and regenerative farming practices within the Rota farming community.
Interested community members who would like to learn more about regenerative agriculture can attend the upcoming workshops by NMC-CREES on November 4 and 11 on Saipan, and November 8 and 9 on Tinian and Rota. To register, visit bit.ly/AGWS23, email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., or call (670) 237-6840.