Antique thinking?

I was just flipping through the Saipan Tribune when I saw the article Urgent upgrading needed for DoA's 'antique' tractors.

Nothing unusual there, until it struck me: why should the CNMI be in the tractor business? Couldn't farmers buy their own tractors? If that's too expensive, couldn't someone rent tractors?

Maybe it's too hard to compete against the government.

Update According to the "Marianas Variety "Some of the farmers complained that the $15 fee for renting agricultural equipment, like tractors, is “too high.”