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A Bowl of Rice Experiment invites you to plant rice seedlings on the Lantern Festival, February 24

General News By Emily Carter 0 views

[How much does a bowl of rice cost?] Trial project

Two young people spent their holidays taking part in the 2013 spring plowing at Nanao Letian, wanting to make all the costs of the entire process fully public, so everyone can understand just how much a bowl of rice really costs. If we take cost plus a reasonable profit, say 5%-10% or even less, can young smallholder farmers really support a whole family? Can consumers really support young smallholder farmers?
>> Trial project description
>> Cost breakdown

2/24 Sunday, come plant rice

We have already reserved seedlings for 1.1-1.2 fen of land from Mr. Jian of Wujie Township, and we will plant rice on 2/24 (Sunday) 9:00-16:00. So that everyone does not only see the cost breakdown, we would like to invite everyone to take part in planting rice and actually become part of the cost.

We roughly estimate that an amateur farmer needs 20 work hours. Based on the wage of an ordinary farmer at $1500 a day (1500/8=187.5), let us lower the rate for amateur farmers, just $150 an hour for easy calculation. For taking part in rice planting, the wage is $150 an hour, and we will give you a pay slip.

Non-professional farmers always need guidance from a teacher. On that day there will be two professional farmer teachers, at the wage of a professional farmer of $1500 a day; the instructor fee of $3000 will be shared by each one-hour farmer, payable in cash. Ideally there will be 20 one-hour farmers, so each person bears $150 of the instructor fee, and we will also give each person a $150 pay slip to exchange for rice later.

In the hope of expanding participation, and because amateur farmers may not be able to bend over for a full hour, this one hour can be shared by several people. So the conclusion is:

  • On Sunday 2/24 please come plant rice, and we will give you a pay slip for one hour of wages, $150.
  • If you cannot do a full hour by yourself, you can ask friends to help together, but we count work hours, not people.
  • There will be two professional farmers as teachers; participants will share the instructor fee of $3000 in total, payable in cash.
This $150 pay slip: once the rice from the trial field is harvested, the cost is confirmed plus a reasonable profit, and the yield is confirmed, only then can the selling price be announced, and you can use your pay slip to exchange for rice.
To sign up, please leave a comment directly or Email: [email protected].
This is different from labor exchange, and it is also the first time we have thought of this method. If you have any questions, please raise them for discussion as much as possible. Thank you.

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