Big Farm, Bigger Opportunity

This was the second to last day. After breakfast we started another 3 hour drive, but this time to Altamira. We finally visited the rice farms! The setting of the rice fields against the mountains was so beautiful. This farm was owned by Manolo Porro. He produces 60% of the nationally grown rice in Nicaragua. I think the farm was 10,000 acres. He first asked if we had any questions. I only had about a million, so I started right in with "What's your most problematic insect pest?". Then asked a few other things before I felt like I should just let him show us some things. As he showed us his fields and the research they were conducting I asked more questions. He had answers to them all and was very progressive. The system there had a lot of similarities to Louisiana production, but there were clear differences as well. First of all they can have 2 seasons in a year. A rainy season planting and a dry season planting. Their biggest insect pest is not the weevil we have here, though they have that too, but a little plant hopper. This plant hopper transmits viruses to the rice. They use some LSU developed varieties called Clearfield that are herbicide resistant. These varieties have been bred this way and so are not considered GMO's. GMOs are illegal in Nicaragua so they have to rely on more traditional breeding technology. There are also some cultural practices like burning fields, which aren't very sustainable. Women are generally not involved in administration, but Manny said this is something he would like to change. I'm curious if it's due to traditional roles, childcare, or educational differences between women and men. It's probably a combination.

Manolo is an LSU alumni, and as I said, he has very progressive ideas for the farm. He told us while we were there that he dreams of making a collaboration with LSU. I was happy to hear this as I dream of working internationally. After talking to him about it a bit more, he offered to fund me to return and do research on his farm! I am definitely going to take him up on this amazing offer, and already have started planning with my advisor. I need to finish my required courses at LSU first. It's a good thing I have been taking extra classes! The hard part is to focus for the next year until I can go back. My notebook is currently a jumble of potential projects. I really want to talk to the women about how they perceive their roles on the farm, and so much room for studying induced resistance! 

Manny the farm owner. He's probably answering a question I asked here.

Even the tequila is calling me back!

That night we went to JC's favorite restaurant in Granada with Lorenzo. It was excellent! Plantains and cheese, steak, Victoria Frost, and Flor de Cana (rum). Exquisite.  I can see why he ate there every night of the trip. I was pretty tired that night, and had a lot on my mind from the day. Plus we had been out in Granada multiple nights and I didn't think I was missing anything. I decided to make it an early night and wake up early the next day. It was the last night, and the other students stayed out until very very late. I guess I'm getting old :)