Myanmar rice harvest yields 33 tons to feed 100 orphans, staff for a year; excess to be sold

Photo: One of the orphans plays in the rice straw from our recent harvest.

We’re very pleased to report that the second harvest at our Myanmar rice farm was a huge success. The crop yielded approximately three tons of rice per acre at the 12 acre farm, or approximately 30,000 KGs. We’re extremely overjoyed with the result. It’s a vast increase over last year’s harvest thanks to improved efficiency, higher quality fertilization and better irrigation techniques employed by our native team.

As with most rice harvests, part of the yield produced what is called “broken rice” and “rice husks” suitable for pig feed at our piggery. The yield from this part of the harvest will supply our piggery with enough feed for 9 months, thus saving us over $3,000—adding significantly to the farm’s profitability.

The crop yielded enough high-quality rice to stock our 5 orphanages for 12 months, supplying a staple in the diets of our 100 orphans and 10 staff. We estimate that this harvest will save us approximately $6,805 in what we would have usually spent on rice during this time. The stock will be especially helpful during the rainy season when rice supplies dwindle and prices spike.

Not only will it supply the orphans with a staple in the local diet—the excess from the harvest will be sold at a time when the prices are best for the rice. These profits will help fund other nutritional, medical and education needs for the orphans.

In 2013, 33% of our in-country budget was supplied by profits from our farmland enterprise. In 2014 we project it will reach at least 50%. Our goal is 100% sustainability, but there will always be areas for growth and capital needs, thus the number will likely always be somewhere under 100% as long as donations for such needs are received from the public. Suffice it to say, we’re very proud of our native team for their hard work in achieving such encouraging results.

There’s so much we’re thankful for about our progress in Myanmar for 2013, but we couldn’t be happier with such great news to close out the year. Thank you for being a part of this work—the ultimate harvest of which is rescued and transformed lives.

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