In 2010, CRWRC (now known as World Renew) in partnership with Foods Resource Bank, started a Farmer Field School program to improve food security in the communities where we work with our local partners. The goal of these Farmer Field Schools (FFS) was “to increase the food security of rural farming households in Cambodia through increased crop diversity, improved irrigation, and year-round land utilization.” Each FFS consisted of a group of approximately 20 farmers who had a small plot of land where they received training on new agricultural techniques and were able to immediately practice what they had learned. After they had some practice, they could implement their learning on their own land, but with less risk.
In 2010, CRWRC (now known as World Renew) in partnership with Foods Resource Bank, started a Farmer Field School program to improve food security in the communities where we work with our local partners. The goal of these Farmer Field Schools (FFS) was “to increase the food security of rural farming households in Cambodia through increased crop diversity, improved irrigation, and year-round land utilization.” Each FFS consisted of a group of approximately 20 farmers who had a small plot of land where they received training on new agricultural techniques and were able to immediately practice what they had learned. After they had some practice, they could implement their learning on their own land, but with less risk.
A total of 12 FFSs were started, five in the first group, four in the second group and three in the third group. Recently, the first group ended their official external training phase, and my coworkers Rith and Kao did a survey of the participants to see what the real impact on their lives was. The following is one of those stories:
Hem Sobin’s family of seven lives in Kantuot Proang village of Svay Rieng province. As a FFS member, he participated in training in System of Rice Intensification (SRI), soil improvement, composting, liquid fertilizer, bio- extract fertilizer, botanical pesticide, wet and dry season vegetable growing techniques, and chicken-raising. Sobin applied all of these techniques on his own land and he got good results, especially with SRI.
Sobin applied the SRI technique on all 17,000 square meters of his land. The family’s rice yield increased from 1,560 Kg to 2,520 Kg. By applying SRI, he not only got a higher yield, but also used less inputs. He reduced his seed usage from 200 Kg to 60 Kg; and his chemical fertilizer usage from 250 Kg to 100 Kg per year. He has also started using a seed purification technique to strengthen his seed stock to get higher yields in the future.
Sobin started to grow various kinds of vegetable and fruit trees including: wax gourd, long bean, taro, pumpkin, amaranth, bottle gourd, lemon grass, papaya, banana, guava, mango, and jackfruit. The family eats some of the produce themselves and has also been able to sell some extra. Sobin has also been practicing some of new techniques he learned related to chicken raising. His family has enjoyed eating some of the chicken themselves, and he has been able to sell some of the chickens for about 120,000 Riel ($30) every three months. Now he has 52 chickens.
Sobin’s main source of income is agricultural, and he is grateful to have gained additional knowledge and learned new techniques. He can now afford to send his kids to Phnom Penh for higher education thanks to his increased income.
Sobin’s story is not one of a kind. The FFS program has helped to improve the food security of many families like Sobin’s. One farmer who was interviewed said that he no longer has to migrate to other provinces in the dry season to find work: He can make an income at home using the dry season vegetable growing techniques he has learned.
Another farmer observed that it isn’t just FFS members who are trying new methods. Other community members are observing what is going on at FFS demonstration plots and are trying the new techniques for themselves. I am excited to see the impact that Farmer Field Schools will continue to have on the communities we work with!
Please Pray:
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For continued health and safety in our work here.
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For safe travel and learning as I participate in an evaluation in Niger later this month.
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With thanksgiving for the success of the first group of Farmer Field Schools and that our work in food security and other sectors will continue to make a real impact on Cambodian communities
Blessings,
Program Advisor
World Renew Cambodia
In 2010, CRWRC (now known as World Renew) in partnership with Foods Resource Bank, started a Farmer Field School program to improve food security in the communities where we work with our local partners. The goal of these Farmer Field Schools (FFS) was “to increase the food security of rural farming households in Cambodia through increased crop diversity, improved irrigation, and year-round land utilization.” Each FFS consisted of a group of approximately 20 farmers who had a small plot of land where they received training on new agricultural techniques and were able to immediately practice what they had learned. After they had some practice, they could implement their learning on their own land, but with less risk.