Successful Harvest begins with Quality Seed

Successful Harvest begins with Quality Seed

A main objective of La Semilla Ministries has been to make available quality seed to producers of all levels of production. Since we work with small producers (less than 8 acres), a constant struggle that we’ve seen is availability of clean, vigorous seed that carries genetics appropriate for the specific climate zone to be seeded. 

We have a good working relationship with INTA (Nicaraguan Institute of Technical Agriculture) who do most of the plant breeding in Nicaragua and maintain various lines of genetics. Using them as source of high generation seed, La Semilla works with a group of 6 producers who propagate that seed into a commercial seed that we provide to our producers.

Much care is taken through this entire process to ensure quality is maintained.  Beans are then dried to 13%, machine processed, hand-selected, then maintained free from humidity, insects, and rodents until the next planting season.

A similar process happens with sorghum. Because good traits are also available in hybrids, we also work through strategic alliances and commercial houses to have these latest genetics available to the small producer in appropriate quantities.

This is a good step forward. On one hand, it may not seem much, but where previously most crops have been planted from whatever seeds are conveniently available, these steps lead to quality assurance which WILL lead to higher yields.