Corn Production
NICARAGUA CORN PRODUCTION Red beans are certainly the king crop of Nicaragua – they are part of the country’s identity and such an important part of their diet. In our quest to improve rural incomes and yields, we have worked extensively to encourage more production of CORN (consumed locally as tortillas, porridge and tomales) and to increase it’s profitability through yield increases, diversification of income and marketing strategies. Corn has an image problem compared to beans. Because beans have a more cultural attraction, corn doesn’t receive the investment it needs to achieve it’s yield potential. As we talk about general farming strategies we include corn as an important rotation crop. A rotation crop is necessary to plant between cycles of beans to: Improve bean yields – by interrupting a bean-on-bean production cycle we can improve bean yields just by planting on fresh soil that hadn’t previously grown a crop of…
Jeremias Zuniga – A Life Transformed
Jeremias Zuniga is a 68 year old farmer from San Pedro de la Paz, department of Carazo, NICARAGUA. The Beginnings with La Semilla Ministries Don Jeremias began working with La Semilla Ministries in 2019 when he had planted an acre of corn. The corn he planted was seed saved from previous years’ harvests and netted him a yield of 10 sacks of grain. In 2020, Jeremias attended an introduction seminar for La Semilla where he learned how the long-term strategies we promote transform producer knowledge into better experiences and potential for income. He learned about the difference between commercial grain (then used for planting), and Certified Seed (marketed by ourselves as the brand EXITIERRA). Achievements and Knowledge Gained from La Semilla With his first planting experience with La Semilla, Jeremias saw the great impact that the use of certified seed could have on his yields. He had…
The Importance of Seed in Modern Agriculture
La Semilla = The Seed! You already knew that right?! The Seed – planting for today and for eternity…..a great slogan filled with truth. Let’s talk seed – when we started in Nicaragua over a decade ago, no secure supplier of seed could be found. In agricultural circles, we know that using good quality seed is paramount to the yield success we wish to see at harvest time. Now we – La Semilla – are a leader in bean seed throughout the country! We market seed throughout Nicaragua – primarily bean seed, but also with small forays into sorghum, corn and rice under our market brand – EXITIERRA. Quality certified seed is based on these characteristics: Genetics – These are the traits, or benefits, specific to a particular plant type. For example in beans, we’re looking for genetics that help the plant resist periods of drought, growing conditions…
Creating Hands-On Learning Opportunities
Agriculture is a diverse and dynamic field of study and technology. Modern agriculture pulls together the best elements of scientific and academic study and then combines them in some sort of practical application from which, as producers, we can meet one of our many objectives in production. These objectives include: improved yields, lower cost of production, environmental considerations, and security/stability of achieving potential outcomes. All of these factors are important to modern farmers. That means that we always have much to learn! Many people involved in primary production have studied extensively and achieved a diploma or a degree reflecting their achievement. Then there are seminars, conventions and grower groups where we can continually update and improver on this flood of information. Modern farmers are constantly learning something and looking for ways to apply that new-found knowledge to their particular operations. That is the type of environment that we promote here…
Battling Climate – A Farmer’s Nemesis
Where in the world do you find a farmer that is satisfied with the current growing season? Now I’m not implying that farmers are complainers, just that there is always this big unknown in Agriculture – the climate! Crops have pretty specific requirements to reach their genetic potential. What’s too hot for some is too cool for others, what’s moist enough for some is too dry for others….you’ve heard the saying: “It’s going to be better next year!”. It certainly is no different if you’re in Canada, Europe, or Nicaragua, the climate is not always the farmer’s friend. So how do we manage this variable within the framework of an agriculture development program? Well, from our Biblical perspective, the first thing I want to do is pray. As I pray, I am humbled by the creator God, and I am assured that He is sovereign, and I am certain that…
The RED BEAN, a Nicaraguan staple
I want to consider this image of a handful of beans. These are the life-blood of the nicaraguan diet. A healthy protein source, sure, but also a cultural pride – so much revolves around the (red)bean! At La Semilla we have invested a great deal of our resources in improving yields and predictable income from this crop. It is indeed the most noble of crops cultivated in this country. Many of our initiatives have had good success at affecting yields. Planting the right genetics, good quality seed, proper seed population and weed control are among the most important. We have seen yields net the genetic potential of the varieties planted, up to 4 times the national average. December is a month to harvest. The thing is, this 2020, there is very little to harvest. In Carazo province we have lost 70-75% of the harvest. The double hurricanes of Eta and…
Juan Manuel Altamirano
Although much of the information you’ll find on our website is factual, scientific, and related to technical agriculture; do not misunderstand – WE ARE ALL ABOUT PEOPLE! We believe that God has created each person on this earth by design and for purpose, and it is our desire to help people realize that incredible worth. Since we are dedicated to a long-term strategy for development, we are excited when some the rural folks we work with understand and adopt practices which impact their lives. Today we want to focus on the one of these successes. Juan Altamirano is a success by our evaluation of an associated agriculture producer with La Semilla. Juan lives just outside of Diriamba, Carazo in a neighborhood called Berlin. He is a 50 year-old father, husband, and farmer. Although he doesn’t own any agriculture land of his own, he does own his own home and the…
United Nations Recognizes LA SEMILLA
EXITIERRA Quality Certified Bean Seed As we have worked to improve incomes for rural Nicaraguan families, an area that you’ve heard a lot about already is our certified seed program. When we consider all the factors that influence yield, the use of quality seed for helping achieve predictable outcomes from crop production puts us at least 40% of the way down the road to improved yields. Quality seed not only addresses issues of germination, vigor and genetic purity, it is an effort that focuses on bringing the RIGHT GENETICS to rural Nicaragua. Genetics that deliver disease resistance, grwth caracteristics, and yield that farmers want. Genetics that deliver colour, size, and taste of beans that consumers will buy. In bean production in Nicaragua, LA SEMILLA is currently the only provider of certified seed. We’ve invested lots of time and effort, and not only has it made a huge difference for farmers,…
Colaborating in the science of agriculture.
La Semilla is dedicated to searching ways to achieve it’s long-term agriculture development strategies. We have recently committed to a more formal partnership with the University Internacional Antonio De Valdivieso (UNIAV) located in Rivas, Nicaragua. Although the university offers more than just agriculture studies, agriculture and ag-engineering remain it’s strongest departments. All three of the full-time agronomists at La Semilla are graduates of this institution. La Semilla sought to strengthen it’s relationship there and so in August, along with a formal visit and tour of the facilities, we committed to working together more closely for the future of agriculture in Nicaragua. This means we will both seek opportunities to colaborate on areas of interest – promotion of new seed genetics, extension services to the rural communities, joint workshops, hosting students through an official co-op agreement, promotion of the processing of agriculture products. For the months of November and December 2019,…