UPDATE #1 FOR RICE II_2022 SPONSORS

Dear Sponsors, We at Grow For Me do appreciate your trust in sponsoring farmers to grow more to make food accessible and affordable while reaping the rewards that comes with it. The Rice II_2022 production season began in November and we are very excited to embark on this journey with you our sponsors. In bridging the update gap between our farmers and sponsors this season, we will be informing you on the rice production cycle that has so far gone on . The production cycle of rice started from the selection of the right variety of seed to grow, preparation of the land, planting, growth and currently field maintenance. The variety grown by our sponsored farmers is the Ex-Bakai (aka Legon-1). It is short duration variety maturating within 120 -125 days. Rice plants go through three main developmental stages of growth. These include: - Vegetative stage (germination to panicle initiation [PI]), - Reproductive stage (PI to heading) and - Ripening. Fields planted are currently in the reproductive and Ripening growth phase. Fields in the reproductive growth phase have planted fields in either the early reproductive phase or mid to late reproductive phase. The early phase is the period of panicle initiation to booting. Rice plant is said to be in the panicle stage when a terminal flowering head begins to form in the base of the stem. The booting stage is the period of internode elongation. This is the period of rapid growth and lengthening. The mid to late reproductive phase is the heading to flowering period. The ripening growth phase is also referred to as the filling stage. The formation of your rice grain in its milky and doughy stage. The milky stage is the development of liquid starch resembling milk in the kernel. The doughy stage has the starch firming up but still soft. Management Practices: Birds are major pest in rice production. They can feed on the grains and leave the fields up to about 80% loss in yield. Farmers are scaring away birds by shouting and covered fields with nets to prevent different types of birds from eating the grains. Other means used by the farmers to effectively manage and prevent birds are using of flags and scare crows. In addition to bird control, there are several other important management practices that our sponsored farmers will be doing for the rest of the rice production season. These practices include: Water management: Rice plants require a lot of water to grow, especially during the flowering and grain-filling stages. Our farmers will be monitoring the water levels in their fields and making sure they are properly drained to prevent water-logging and the growth of weeds. Weed control: Weeds can compete with rice plants for light, water, and nutrients, leading to a reduction in yield. Our farmers will be using a combination of manual weeding and herbicides to control weeds and maintain the health of the rice plants. Pest and disease control: Rice plants are susceptible to various pests and diseases that can damage the leaves, stems, and grains. Our farmers will be monitoring their fields regularly and taking necessary measures to prevent and control pests and diseases. By following these management practices, our farmers aim to maximize the yield of the rice plants and produce high-quality grains for our sponsors and buyers. We will keep you updated on the progress of the farm and the estimated harvest date. We understand the importance of transparency in crowd farming and will make every effort to keep you informed on the status of your investment. We encourage you to monitor your Dashboard as it has been updated and take advantage of the picture updates and feedback we will be providing throughout the production season. We look forward to a successful 2022 rice production season with you and thank you for your continued support of our farmers.