Farmer guides — Sichican International

10–12weeks, planting to harvest

Poor soiltolerated, but needs drainage

Sickleall you need to cut it

1Choosing land & preparing the soil

Pick a well-drained field. Buckwheat dislikes waterlogging.
It copes with modest soils, so heavy fertiliser is rarely needed.
Clear weeds and prepare a fine, even seedbed.

Start small on your first season — a well-managed acre teaches more than a neglected five.

2Planting

Sow when the soil is warm and the rains are established.
Broadcast or drill the seed evenly and cover lightly.
Use the seed supplied by Sichican — it is the variety we will buy back.

3Flowering & care

Buckwheat flowers quickly and keeps flowering over weeks.
Keep weeds down while plants are young; the crop soon shades them out.
Bees love the blossoms — a good reason to keep hives nearby.

4Knowing when to harvest

Buckwheat ripens unevenly — flowers and seed can be on the plant together. Harvest when most of the seed has turned brown.

Watch the seed heads, not the calendar. Waiting for every seed to ripen means losing the early ones to shattering.

5Harvesting with a sickle

Cut the plants with a sickle (jeko) close to the ground.
Lay them on a tarpaulin or clean sheet to dry for several days.
Handle gently to keep seed from dropping.

6Threshing, cleaning & storing

Once dry, thresh the seed out — beating on a sheet works for small plots.
Winnow to blow away chaff, then sort out debris.
Store fully dry seed in clean, dry bags off the ground, away from pests.

Deliver clean, dry grain to Sichican — quality is what earns you the best result at buy-back.

General guidance only. Follow your Sichican field officer’s advice for your area and variety.

Buckwheat plant with green seed clusters, nearly ready for harvest

Shadefrom the hot afternoon sun

Waterclose to the hives, always

Calmslow moves, smoke, no rush

1Where to put your hives

Choose a quiet spot, away from paths, livestock and children’s play areas.
Morning sun and afternoon shade keep colonies comfortable.
Raise hives off the ground on a stand to protect from damp and ants.
Provide clean water nearby.

2Protective clothing & smoker

Wear a veil, gloves and light-coloured overalls.
Use a smoker to calm the colony before opening the hive.

3Bees and buckwheat

Buckwheat blooms over a long period and is a good source of nectar, giving bees plenty to forage on. In return, bees improve pollination of your crop.

Never spray pesticides on flowering fields — it kills the bees you’re working with.

4Checking the colony

Inspect calmly, not too often, and on warm, calm days.
Look for a laying queen, brood, and enough stored food.
Keep the hive clean and free of ants and pests.

5Harvesting honey

Harvest only fully capped combs — that means the honey is ready.
Always leave the bees enough stores.
Strain and store honey in clean, dry, sealed containers.

General guidance only. Your Sichican field officer will train you on-site.

Buckwheat honey and honeycomb with buckwheat flowers

?What does membership include?

Your place in the programme, access to training, and eligibility for inputs and buy-back. The exact package is set by Sichican.

?How is my fee decided?

By category: the number of acres of buckwheat and/or the number of hives you sign up for. Use the calculator on the home page to see yours.

?What if I can’t pay today?

Choose “Pay later”. You’re recorded as pending and a Sichican team member will contact you on WhatsApp to help you finish.

?Who buys my harvest?

Sichican International buys the produce from enrolled farmers after harvest.

?Can I join both programmes?

Yes — many farmers pair buckwheat with beehives. Tick both on the enrolment form.

Learn buckwheat & beekeeping

Ready to put this into practice?