Organic rice is harvested in the biocorridor of the Portoviejo River estuary

PORTOVIEJO

In the lower area of ​​the Portoviejo river valley, 56 hectares of organic rice are currently produced, the new food product proposal that seeks to propose a healthier food and that its production process does not involve the use of chemicals.

This project is part of the proposals for services and enterprises that are generated after the Manabí Convida project, executed by the Foundation for Research and Social Development (Fides), and financed by the Italo-Ecuadorian Fund for Sustainable Development, and whose process It began more than a year ago, as confirmed by Bolívar Aragundi, leader of the community of Las Gilces, one of the territories where this rice is produced.

Organic rice seeks position in the market

The support for this and other bio-enterprises deployed along the Portoviejo River estuary is given for community tourism, artisanal salt and organic rice, which is already sold for between 35 and 36 dollars per quintal at this time of introduction of the product to the market. market.

These aid proposals are generated in favor of the Santa Teresa, San Roque and San Jacinto communities, belonging to the Sucre canton, and Las Gilces de Portoviejo, in projects that also have strategic partners in the provincial and local governments. Only in San Jacinto is rice not produced, but support is given to the production of artisanal salt and tourism enterprises.

Andrea Calispa, environment technician of the Fides foundation, pointed out that the production of organic rice will improve the quality of the water and the ecosystem in general, both for fauna and birds, and for people. In the organic rice component, it is intended to support 230 families and 115 hectares until the year 2023.

According to Aragundi, on average each hectare cultivated with organic rice produces between 80 and 100 quintals. There are 56 hectares and each hectare belongs to a family, but it is expected to expand cultivation and production.

“The difference is that the yield in relation to traditional rice is higher, and the production is based on ancient practices, all manual, without chemicals, the support inputs are organic, and we receive training on this subject,” said Aragundi.

Walter Salazar, organic agriculture technician of the Fides foundation, indicated that with the cultivation of this rice, a clean, agroecological agriculture is sought, where families can produce natural inputs, using what they have on their farm, such as leftovers. of crops, improving the subject of the soil, and the environment, without the use of chemicals.

The group created the Facebook page Raíces Manabas y Fides to attend requests from interested people. (I)