Prey Vang

Manure hut, for use in compost, Prey Vang province

I had the opportunity to travel 'into the field' for the first time last week, to Prey Vang province in Southeastern Cambodia. The names means 'long forest' in Khmer, but little forest remains, as in most parts of Cambodia. In fact, in certain areas, if you squint, the landscape looks like a well manicured golf course in Florida. What looks like acid green turf is, of course, rice paddies. CEDAC works with young farmers in the region, and I was lucky enough to visit their farms to view the new techniques they are implementing to raise chickens, grow vegetables, and increase their rice yields.

It was a very inspiring trip, to say the least. I was quite impressed by the farmers, their ambition and their commitment to farming as a profession. Previously, many had to supplement their incomes by working in factories or in construction, keeping them away from their families.

This was not my first trip into the Cambodian countryside, but it was the first time I was able to visit people's homes and learn about tropical agriculture from the farmers themselves. It's easy to forget how most Cambodians live when immersed in Phnom Penh's flashing lights and traffic. But despite the capital's growth, Cambodia is a still an overwhelmingly rural country.