Chheav Hong, a 66-year-old farmer from Samrong village, Samrong commune, Sotr Nikum district of Siem Reap province, is gaining recognition for his success in sustainable farming practices. Hong started his farming journey in 2000, solely growing rice. However, driven by a passion for growing crops, he gradually moved towards vegetable farming on unused land. Although Hong struggled initially with low yields using conventional methods, he learned new techniques and gradually transitioned to modern, sustainable farming practices. Now, his nine-hectare farm, known as Hong EcoFarm, located in Siem Reap province, is garnering praise for its lush and diverse landscape.
Hong’s farm stays green on the arid, red soil, attracting farmers from various provinces to come and see his success firsthand. He engages in mixed crop farming on six hectares, which includes the establishment of ponds for raising ray-finned fish and red Tilapia. The remaining three hectares are dedicated to cultivating Cambodia’s renowned “Phkar Romduol” rice. During the December season when the prices for curly cabbage and mustard greens decrease, he sells lettuce at a premium price to international customers.
At Hong EcoFarm, nine net houses span across a length of 46 meters and a width of 25 meters, costing $30,000 per net house. Hong regularly grows cherry tomatoes, bell peppers, and assorted fruit. He also cultivates lettuce, curly cabbage, kale, and mustard greens on a seasonal basis. Despite concerns about finding buyers for his vegetables, he assures that wholesale buyers from Siem Reap and Phnom Penh purchase his vegetables consistently.
Hong also annually produces 12 tonnes of rice, supplementing it with rice bought from farmers in his community. Combining the rice he cultivates with the purchased rice results in around 30 tonnes per season. Following this, he mills the combined harvest into milled rice for sale.
The Siem Reap provincial Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, along with the Ministry of Agriculture, regularly commend Hong’s productivity, and his farm receives visits from men and women from 26 different countries engaged in USAID projects. Tea Kim Soth, the Siem Reap Agriculture Department Director, praises Hong as a genuine and exemplary farmer, particularly for his diversified farming and use of sustainable practices.
Khim Finan, the Ministry of Agriculture’s Spokesperson, notes that the ministry’s goal is to transition from family farming to industrial farming by nurturing large-scale communities known as modern farming communities. In the context of vegetable farming, the ministry encourages larger communities with cooperative production and shared management to cut costs and ensure a sustainable supply.
Hong has a vision for his farm that goes beyond the mere production of agricultural goods. In the future, he hopes to establish agro-tourism by offering guests temporary accommodations with cooking facilities. He shares, “This farm boasts a picturesque green landscape throughout all seasons.”
Hong’s success as a model farmer using sustainable practices highlights how learning new techniques can result in significant progress. His model of diversified farming, using net houses, mixed crop cultivation, and fish ponds, could inspire other farmers to move towards sustainable farming practices. With the Ministry of Agriculture promoting sustainable farming methods, Cambodia could move closer to sustainable agriculture and agribusiness.
Source: Phnompenh Post
