By Phat Samphy, Kandal Stueng
UCANews.com
A project to encourage villagers to grow their own organic food supply and increase their family income, has been a huge success, Caritas Cambodia says.
“Global warming is causing problems in agricultural production in many areas … Planting vegetables in their gardens provides food security,” said Chai Meng, Caritas’ community empowerment program manager in Kandal province.
The social service arm of the local Catholic Church launched its Home Vegetable Garden project at the start of this year in Kandal Stueng, south of the capital.
So far 19 families are involved in the program, in which Caritas provides technical and financial support, Meng said. Each family’s vegetable plot can measure up to 100 square meters, depending on the amount of land they have. “Many kinds of vegetables such as wax melon, long beans and cabbage are being grown,” Meng said.
Not only can they eat what they grow, they are boosting their income by selling the produce as well, he said. “Their produce is sold in villages and some markets in Phnom Penh and many people are buying them.”
Caritas advises on the proper seeds to use and provides each family with US$25 – US$50 with which to start their vegetable garden.
“We encourage the use of organic fertilizers like compost and natural insecticides,” said Chab Rosekdey, a Caritas official.
“My family’s living standards have improved so much. We have organic vegetables to eat, which do not damage our health,” said Klot Sareth, a 35-year-old villager.
The program has also seen a fewer people migrating to Phnom Penh to look for work, which reduces the risk of human trafficking, Meng said.
Caritas is now planning to help villagers expand the production of organic vegetables on a more commercial scale, he said.
“Global warming is causing problems in agricultural production in many areas … Planting vegetables in their gardens provides food security,” said Chai Meng, Caritas’ community empowerment program manager in Kandal province.
The social service arm of the local Catholic Church launched its Home Vegetable Garden project at the start of this year in Kandal Stueng, south of the capital.
So far 19 families are involved in the program, in which Caritas provides technical and financial support, Meng said. Each family’s vegetable plot can measure up to 100 square meters, depending on the amount of land they have. “Many kinds of vegetables such as wax melon, long beans and cabbage are being grown,” Meng said.
Not only can they eat what they grow, they are boosting their income by selling the produce as well, he said. “Their produce is sold in villages and some markets in Phnom Penh and many people are buying them.”
Caritas advises on the proper seeds to use and provides each family with US$25 – US$50 with which to start their vegetable garden.
“We encourage the use of organic fertilizers like compost and natural insecticides,” said Chab Rosekdey, a Caritas official.
“My family’s living standards have improved so much. We have organic vegetables to eat, which do not damage our health,” said Klot Sareth, a 35-year-old villager.
The program has also seen a fewer people migrating to Phnom Penh to look for work, which reduces the risk of human trafficking, Meng said.
Caritas is now planning to help villagers expand the production of organic vegetables on a more commercial scale, he said.
10 comments:
Cambodians always grow their own vegetables without chimical fertilizer.
The problem is not the chimical fertilizer use.
The problem is: most of Cambodians don't grow vegetable at all.
We are too lazy.
can never go wrong with organic food, organic vegetables, etc... go organic cambodia!
12:12am! are you from Cambodia? or living here?
12:12Am! I blame your father for not @#%% hard enough so your brain is not develop!
Fucking Khmer people that why ours country is not going anywhere. Alway need foreigner for help..they so hard head just like ancient Ankor time. I been trying to sell this fertilize products stuff fron the USA to them since 2000. They just laught at me saying Cambodian dont need fertilizer. they can grow everything naturally gov dont believe it either. Now Youn is opening a fertilizer company in Cambodia. Fucking BullShit
2:14AM! you are a fall or stupid wantnabe business person! Sorry for you faillure!
You may be tooold to go back too scholl go on welfare dude!
For those who are educated in the US; do you know that most groceries you buy from the stores are depleted of it nutritional benefits because of over fertilized with non organic substance? Basically farm lands are stripped of its minerals needed to produce value added foods.
I'm glad to hear that Cambodians are eating organic food. It will help them to keep out of doctor's office, ( if there is a doctor's office) in a village. Beside, they may have a better IQ without chemical laden food to consume.
Cambodian people live like without state leaders. The governmental leaders are too lazy to help people.
1:52 AM and 1:56 AM, ask your mother and father, when they were in Cambodia, they and their parents growed what in their garden ?
I guess, they growed nothing, they bought all those vegetables from the market.
11:19PM! come to phnom penh and see what land (if there any) midle class Phnom Penh has!
And lucky if we have water to drink! now aday!
You expect the land graber like Hun xen and family to grow Vegetable???????LOL....LOL..LOL
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