Our Sesame-Induced Stomach Ulcers

Returning to the subject of Goals for 2014…  

Two main emphases in our projects are 1) sustainable agriculture and 2) sustainable economic development.  This year we have been trying to “fix” last year’s problems, when the organic ag co-op COPROEXNIC had substantial losses due to processors mishandling crops after they left the farmers’ hands.

Part of what we experienced and continue to experience is that without the necessary funding, “fixing” problems makes worry and ulcers…lots of stomach ulcers!

A major goal for the agriculture projects is to obtain the lease of the only functioning – and we use the term “functioning” loosely – sesame processing plant in the country (see last week’s blog).  After 6 months of negotiating, in January we did obtain the lease from the Nicaraguan government which owns the plant. 
When we finally got access to the plant, we discovered there was no electricity because the last renter did not pay his electrical bills of 1.7 million córdobas (more than $70,000).  Now the electric company wants COPROEXNIC to pay the back bill before hooking the plant’s electricity up…there is no way THAT is going to happen.

So to solve the power problem, together with COPROEXNIC we have bought a generator…only to find important wiring ripped out of the plant.  Now we are trying to get the generator hooked up and trying to repair broken machinery. We’ve been cleaning and repairing, but we have miles to go and many dollars to be spent before the plant is fully functioning and certified.*

Hopefully, in the not too distant future we will have a good load of sesame ready to run through the plant and will be able to begin to make the plant sustainable, and next year to be fully operational for all our farmers’ crops! 

Another goal is to help get the post-harvest peanut processing stabilized.  We have located a new processing plant that this year processed the 15 containers of organic peanuts properly.  Processing at this plant is more expensive, but well worth it. 

Controlling more of the process means we’re adding value to the crop while it’s still in the farmers’ hands.  The more we can do this, the more value stays in the country with the farmers and does not go outside the country to third party processors. 

Nicaragua is rich in natural resources, but not rich in money…money which seems to always go to others.  We want to keep the wealth here to help feed and educate children, provide health care, and boost the infrastructure in THIS country.   The farmers here work hard…harder than you can imagine…they’ve earned the right to keep the profits here for their own people. -Kathleen

*We also want to make sesame oil with the by-product sesame…again adding value in-country.