"We had thought about this idea before, but did not have enough resources. Now with the Challenge Account support we are building a drying patio and an additional area for milling. The idea is to sell the service to all grain producers", said Maximiliano Reyes, a member of the Cooperative Union of El Sauce (UCAS).

To obtain better prices and to take advantage of all the byproducts resulting from the milling process (such as semolina, broken rice, hulls and bran, which are sold for animal feed) it is essential to dry the wet rice grain. Drying the rice grain increases its price by US$3 per quintal on average, add to that the profits generated from sale of the by-products.

Engineer Carlos Saravia, a rice specialist who works for the MCA-N agricultural operator, Chemonics, explained that 100 quintals of milled rice produce 10 quintals of semolina, (an additional income of C$ 2,500) and three quintals of broken rice (a further C$ 1,350).

"These drying patios will enable the cooperatives to offer a much sought after service which generates more income and reduces production costs for the small producers, which in turn stimulates more rice production", said Saravia.

Problems arising before the MCA support

The lack of drying facilities and mills prevented small producers from communities in the Western Region from making rice production a more profitable enterprise.

Most of them had to transport wet rice grain to other municipalities and pay for drying services there. This meant higher food and transport costs, which increased even further at times when the facilities were in high demand and they had to wait for various days.

:: MCA hands over wood drying kiln ::

As part of the activities to strengthen the forestry value chain in the Wood-Furniture Cluster, the Millennium Challenge Account (MCA) provided the San Jose Cooperative of Cabinet-makers and Carpenters of Leon with a wood drying kiln.

This is an essential piece of equipment that allows wood workers to meet the national and international market standards on the amount of moisture allowed in the raw materials used in furniture making.

This donation increases the capacity for industrial wood-drying of the 13 member cooperative, who own their own furniture workshops.

This also helps reduce production costs, as now they only need 20 days to prepare the suitable raw material in contrast to the 40 or more days needed to air-dry the wood outdoors.

"We are more motivated to keep producing at a higher quality. We need more technology. We thank the MCA for this valuable support", said the President of the San José Cooperative, René Vallecillo.

This technological improvement is part of the investment outlined in the Cooperative's business plan. The MCA spent eight thousand dollars on this wood drying kiln which includes a solar panel to power it.

The cooperative provided co-funding of seven thousand dollars. According to cooperative member, José Antonio Cordero, they have begun to establish alliances with forestry producers (who are also MCA beneficiaries) to purchase wood.

Developing an Action Plan for this sector

San Jose is one of six carpentry cooperatives working with the MCA in the Western Region.

Recently, the sectors involved in the forestry value chain of the wood-furniture cluster developed an Annual Action Plan. The plan proposes that:- the carpenters who also own land plant 260 hectares of wood trees; the installation of six collective workshops with a separate module for each member; the installation of collective showrooms; and technological improvements via investment in new machinery, equipment, training and technical assistance.

:: SINIA Node provides environmental information ::

The Ministry of the Environment and Natural Resources (MARENA) recently opened in Leon the Regional Environmental Information Center-North Pacific Node. It forms part of the National Environmental Information System (SINIA), which has an updated and systematized database on environmental issues.

The Millennium Challenge Account (MCA) supported this initiative, as part of its environmental commitment, with an investment of US$ 35,000. This included:- 13 computers and 2 GPS; two GIS experts; the design of the node; the refurbishment of the regional offices and of the central offices of the National Directorate of Protected Areas.

MARENA’s departmental delegate, Yanira Alvarez, considers the Center to be a resource for researchers, students and the general public who want access to any kind of information on environmental issues affecting the department of León. She thanked the MCA for its support and for the assistance provided by other organizations.

"The Node will also help all the different stakeholders working in this region to make informed decisions," noted Dr. Juan Sebastián Chamorro, MCA Director.

He also mentioned MCA support for other environmental concerns such as setting up forestry brigades; supporting the campaign to protect sea turtles; production of four Management Plans for Protected Areas, among others.

At the SINIA, information can be found on the state of the environment and natural resources, environmental management, as well as studies and research done in the Departments of Leon and Chinandega.

The information is gathered from the Municipal Environmental Information Network (REDIM-SINIA) which is comprised of public and private institutions, environmental organizations, Universities, Research Centers and Local Governments.

The node is located in MARENA’s departmental office, adjacent to the Central Bank.

:: The insemination program produces calves ::

Several farmers who decided to participate in the Artificial Insemination Program sponsored by the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCA) are now seeing the first fruits.

According to Engineer Aldo Toruño, Manager of the MCA Livestock Cluster, the insemination program’s goal is to improve the genetic make up of cattle in the Western Region to increase their milk yield. He explained that for every two cows inseminated, with MCA funding, by Reprotecsa (the insemination company that won the bid), the farmer pays for the insemination of at least one more cow. To guarantee the investment the MCA and farmers only pay for cows proved to be pregnant.

On "El Disparate" farm in Nagarote, three out of the four cows inseminated became pregnant and the owner, Sergio Sanchez Marcos, now has three high breed (Red Holstein and Simmental) calves as part of his herd. The price for an adult specimen of these breeds is about a thousand dollars.

"The Millennium Account is very satisfied with the birth of these genetically superior animals since they will improve the herds of small and medium cattle breeders, which in the future will increase productivity. You can’t expect great results from a farm that doesn’t have good nutrition and genetic material", said Engineer Toruño.

On the first round of inseminations, 405 cows were impregnated; 40% of the calves have already been born.

For the cattle breeder Ángel Gallo, investing in genetic improvement is key to developing the dairy industry. For several years he has been improving the breeds of cows in his herd and now has cows that produce up to 4 gallons of milk. "I hope the impregnated cows have female calves so I can increase production", he said

The second round began about 2 months ago and is aimed at those farmers who obtained poor results during the first round, or who had only a few cows get pregnant. They represent about 15% of the producers. 

:: Centers for Agricultural Services Open ::

Producers who work closely with the Milk Collection Centers (CAL) in Larreynaga no longer have to travel to Managua or Leon to purchase farming supplies. Now they have a Center for Agricultural Services (CESA) which offers them a variety of products.

Recently, the Millennium Challenge Account (MCA), via the livestock operator TechnoServe, provided producers with supplies to set up a Center for Agricultural Services. The producers working with the Milk Collection Centers will be able to purchase supplies by cash or credit.

The CESA received milk containers, buckets, filter holders, mastitis test kits, salt, chlorine, liquid soap, alcohol and ropes, among other supplies from the MCA. This has enabled producers to start up their business which they plan to expand by offering other products needed by cattle farmers.

Heberto Lopez, coordinator of the CAL in Larreynaga, said that they are selling supplies at below market prices. "Our prices are affordable. For example the colloidal supplement costs 70 cordobas in León while we sell it at the Milk Collection Center for 57 cordobas. Producers also save on transport as they no longer have to travel to León to purchase this product.

This collection center began operations in early October and now collects between 1,100 and 1,200 liters of milk per day from 29 local producers. They are still in the process of expanding the supply routes and soon hope to collect milk from the communities of La Calera and Portobanco.

Other Centers for Agricultural Services

The producers of the local Collection Center in El Sauce have already set up a Center for Agricultural Services and the cattle breeders of Los Zarzales are organizing themselves to sell agricultural supplies to local producers using the collection center there. 

:: First rice harvests ::

Some rice producers from the Western Region have already begun harvesting while others are about to start.

Although they were concerned about their crop because of the droughts, many have managed to recover thanks to some rain fall in mid-September and to the use of fertilizers.

Angel del Rosario Bucardo, from El Tololo community is one of them. In early September, his plantation looked very sad and his land was completely barren. The Millennium Challenge Account (MCA) via the Agricultural Cooperatives Union of El Sauce (UCAS) had provided fertilizers but he did not want to use these while there was no rain.

By mid-November his crop was almost ready to harvest and although he will not obtain the expected returns, he will get an average of 60 to 70 quintals per manzana. "On September 11th it began to rain here in Los Tololos which made us very happy. The next day I began to apply the fertilizers then I bought more to make sure the plants would survive." said the producer who is a member of UCAS, one of the eight cooperatives that work with the MCA.

Angel, anticipating problems of drought and pests, has decided to experiment with several varieties of rice. His idea is to find out which has the quickest cycle, the highest resistance to pests and the best adaptability.

His neighbor, Estela Juniet Martínez Espinoza, is already harvesting the rice she planted and cared for together with her husband, Rene Santos Martinez Valverde. They lost one fourth of a manzana to the drought. "If it hadn’t rained and we hadn’t used the fertilizers we wouldn’t have even harvested enough for our food", she said.

Through the cooperatives, the MCA finances fertilizer and fungicide for 900 manzanas of rice fields. Producers pay for the supplies they receive by handing over part of their harvest to the cooperatives, this creates a revolving fund so they can provide their members with further supplies. The MCA also supports producers in looking for new markets. 

:: Producers share cattle farming experiences ::

Recently, farmers working with the Millennium Challenge Account (MCA), who are also

members of the Cattle Raising Demonstration Cell in Chinandega, visited two farms in Nagarote, Leon, to share experiences and learn about the changes they’ve made with support from the program.

One of the farms visited is owned by producer Pedro Rocha Abarca, in Copaltepe. The farmers made a tour of his farm to see how he has divided his pastures, planting improved fodder and legumes.

Rocha Abarca told the visitors how two years ago he had to rent pasture because he didn’t have enough on his property. "I used to fork out money to rent pastures and to transport the cattle, but now I have enough food for my cattle here" said the producer.

On this farm 34 paddocks have been established using improved grasses, such as Taiwan and Marandu, provided by the MCA, as well as legumes such as "Madero Negro" and Cratilya. This allows rotation of the herd through different grazing areas. The farm also has portable watering troughs to ensure the cattle have permanent access to drinking water.

The cattle breeders from Chinandega were impressed with the management and development of Copaltepe Farm and interested in applying these changes to ensure their own farm’s profitability. Guillermo Narvaez, member of the San Antonio Cell in Somotillo, said that as farmers they have the capability to guarantee food for their cattle, but it all depends on individual initiative.

The second farm visited is owned by Marlon Baltodano in San Gabriel. He said that the MCA technical recommendations provided by the livestock operator, TechnoServe, helped him to improve his cattle feeding and reduce calf mortality. "Last year I lost six calves and this year only one," said Baltodano. 

:: Cattle breeders unite to strengthen their businesses ::

The Demonstration Cells bring together producers working with the same product. They have produced satisfactory results, not only with transferring technological skills but also with obtaining better marketing deals.

The experience of working together led a group of farmers from the Guanacastillo Cell to form a legalized association and continue negotiations to develop their businesses further.

The three most pressing tasks for the farmers of Guanacastillo are:- to encourage other producers of the same cell to join their Association and then merge with the cells in Troilo, Poneloya and Los Barzones; to confront the problems of cattle rustling, theft of equipment and other crimes by working with the National Police on promoting rural security; to pool resources for investment.

Relating to this last task, the cattle breeders promoted an initiative to plant 14 manzanas of wild sorghum. One of the partners supplied the land while others helped with labor and equipment such as pumps, plows, etc. The Millennium Challenge Account (MCA) provided the seeds and technical assistance as well as all the other benefits they routinely receive as members of the Cell.

The producers are requesting MCA support to help them obtain legal status for the Association.