PICT3552

SHI has helped farmers living near the Panama Canal discover that when they grow rice in paddies instead of using slash-and-burn practices, they are able to improve their rice yields by 400% to 800% without having to cut down more forest. In addition to greatly improving family income and reducing deforestation, these paddies provide a wonderful ecosystem where fish can be raised with the rice. The fish eat weeds and pests while naturally fertilizing the rice crop.