P.O. Box 433 Allenspark, CO 80510

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THE TEMPISQUE RICE PROJECT
EPIC is addressing an urgent need, adapting to climate change by promoting ecological farming in Central America and Mexico.
Planting an indigenous upland rice, that is both drought-resistant and hurricane-tolerant, is one current strategy to combat serious food insecurity in this countries.
Four EPIC projects are now participating in this promising initiative.
GUATEMALA
Baja Ver Paz Agriculture
EL SALVADOR
La Segovia Food Production
HONDURAS
La Semilla del Progresso
MEXICO
Axochipan 'Laudato Si' Program
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STARTING FROM SEED
In 2021, La Semilla purchased 400 pounds of Tempisque rice seed and it was carried from Honduras to EPIC's agricultural partners in Guatemala, El Salvador and Mexico.
Participating farmers in the new 4-country Tempisque Rice research project were all given the same amount of Honduran Tempisque rice seed and planting instructions. All plots were standardized as to the size. 111 research plots of Tempisque rice were planted, tended, harvested in the 4 countries. The harvests were weighed and the data recorded.
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A Cautious Start

The hard-earned seeds are planted and the waiting begins. Slowly, thin shoots emerge in the curved terraced rows. Communicating across borders on WhatsApp, the farmers share their worries when there is too much rain or not enough. They do what they can: keeping the weeds away, protecting the seedlings as they grow and keeping an eye on the weather.

Estamos pasando por un momento crítico. Llegaron unas días de lluvia y los productores sembraron como es costumbre (en mes de mayo). Las semillas germinaron, pero dejó de llover, ahora 20 días sin lluvia. Hay preocupacion...veremos que pasa.

We are at a critical moment. A few days of rain came and the farmers planted in May, when they normally do. The seeds germinated but now the rain has stopped. We have had 20 days without rain and there is a lot of worry....we'll see what happens.

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Inch by Inch

After a couple of months, the rice plants continue to grow. However, there is still a lot anxiety in growing a new crop. Farmers need support at this stage and continue consult the extension agents and reach out to other farmers. They have built a community on WhatsApp that allows them to check-in, share growing techniques and, most importantly, share encouragement.

Animo compadre! Esperamos que se logre una cosechita que valga la pena.

Have courage, my friend! Hopefully, it will all be worth it when we get to the harvest.

El cultivo de arroz es muy resistente a la sequia, y tendrán una buena experiencia sobre el cultivo.

The rice is very resistant to drought. Growing it will be a good experience for you.

Que bonito, hay esperanza!!!

How beautiful, there is hope!

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HARVEST RESULTS
Between December 2021 - February 2022 ,
with ONLY 3 pounds of rice seed...
172 pounds of rice were harvested in Guatemala
208 pounds of rice were harvested in Honduras
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RICE HULLING
The lack of modern equipment to remove the rice’s outer shell and ready the rice for cooking was a major deterrent for more farmers considering this crop. An extensive search in all 4 participating countries for an adequate rice hulling machine yielded none. However, in China a small, inexpensive huller could be bought for $495, It was found to process 100 pounds of rice in 13 minutes. These machines weigh 70 pounds, plus a 40 pound motor, so they can easily moved in a pick-up to serve many farmers in a region.

In 2022, 2 out 6 of the new rice hullers were lost in shipping to Central America and Mexico. However, that year with one huller in each country, much rice was successfully hulled, and farmers were extremely pleased with the machines. The hullers were found to process 100 pounds of rice in 13 minutes.
During 2023, 10 rice hullers were shipped from a Chinese port directly to the Pacific port of Guatemala. Armando Tomas, Coordinator of the Tempisque Rice Research Program in the 4 countries, hired a Guatemalan customs agent who successfully managed importation into Guatemala. These hullers have been distributed in the 4 countries, and now all of the rice growing regions have hullers that can be moved from farm to farm for rice hulling.