• Society

Mixed Cropping Boosts Farmers’ Income

• By Khorn Champa
• and Heng Sreylin
• April 24, 2024 7:10 PM

PHNOM PENH – Farmers in coastal provinces have improved their livelihoods by growing multiple crops on one piece of land.

Many families in Kep and Kampot provinces have received training in vegetable growing techniques from CAPFISH-Capture’s Alliance for Consortium for Sustainable Alternatives and Voice for Equitable Development (CO-SAVED) project. 

It aims to improve he lives of farmers facing climate change-related issues and provides materials and vegetable seeds.

Climate change has had a devastating effect on coastal communities in Cambodia, affecting  the livelihoods of vulnerable people. Many farmers, including Trinh Se, have experienced declining rice yields, making life more difficult.

 Trinh Se is a farmer from Kep City’s Prey Thom commune. Photo: ThmeyThmey

A farmer from Kep City’s Prey Thom commune, Trinh Se has turned his harvested fields into multiple cropping fields to avoid the impact of climate change. Trinh Se is no longer worried about expenses because he has a daily income from selling his vegetables and crops.

“I previously worked at a construction site but it was not enough. The project offers training to farmers and I participated. At first, we planted a few vegetables. After we saw that our wellbeing improved, we planted more and more,” he said.

Another farmer from Teuk Chhou district’s Koun Sat commune in Kampot province, Kov Kim, is also enjoying the income from growing vegetables through mixed cropping techniques. 

Kov Kim is a farmer from Teuk Chhou district’s Koun Sat commune in Kampot province. Photo: ThmeyThmey

The 52-year-old grows vegetables including cucumbers, peppers and herbs, all of which are her main source of income.

“I do not live with children or grandchildren anymore. They left after marrying. The income is enough for living and some for alms giving,” she said.

An EU-funded project, CAPFISH-Capture aimed at improving the post-harvest fisheries sector by improving fisheries laws and regulations as well was improving resilience of the fishing communities in coastal areas. The project also works to improve families related to agriculture.   

Khem Kop is a vegetable grower in Koun Sat commune. Photo: ThmeyThmey

CAPFISH-Capture’s training on growing vegetables is important for farmers in today’s climate change situation, said Khem Kop, a grower in Koun Sat commune.

Khem Kop grows vegetables such as cucumbers, peppers and bitter melon. He said gaining more knowledge from the training combined with his experience has resulted in better yields of vegetables and crops, which in turn increased his income. 

“We have income from vegetables sale and our children’s education is not difficult. We spend money on fuel, fertilizer, motorbikes and other expenses in our house,” he said.

With such success, the farmers intend to grow more seasonal vegetables with high demand as they believe that such investment will further improve their families’ standards.  

“I want to grow more vegetables. We now see that we are growing bit by bit. When we grow more, our income will increase,” Trinh Se said.