A vegetable farm in Siem Reap province which uses organic fertiliser. PHOTO SUPPLIED
The Safe Farming Community in Kien Sangke commune’s Prey Khang Cheurng village, in Siem Reap province’s Sotr Nikum district, is encouraging farmers to use organic fertiliser and stop using chemicals.
The community turned to natural options to reduce the outlay on fertilisers and pesticides to improve their livelihoods, and is calling on other farmers to follow suit.
Thai Soda, deputy head of the Safe Farming Community, told reporters during a recent tour that farmers in his community had begun producing natural organic fertiliser using existing raw materials and household waste.
“We looked for a means for them to produce natural fertiliser on their own because they lack the money to buy agricultural fertiliser and to minimise impacts on their health,” she said.
The community’s farmers had researched the production process on social media such as YouTube, on which agricultural fertiliser experts and experienced farmers shared their knowledge.
Soda said there are many kinds of organic fertiliser and different ways to produce it depending on the crop, such as watery fertiliser, composites or fertiliser from chaff and coconut fibre.
Suos Lay of the Safe Farming Community said some members had complained that modern farming was less profitable because they had to spend more on fertiliser, pesticides and fuel, the cost of which have increased, while their products were being sold at a low price.
To address the problem, farmers had joined together to produce natural fertiliser from materials around them, such as household waste and plant matter.
Bat Sovann, agricultural officer at the NGO Gret, said the production of organic fertiliser had brought the farmers monetary gains and other benefits.
“When the farmers produce organic fertiliser on their own with existing raw materials, it helps improve the soil, making it fertile and helping to eradicate germs from the crops.
“With it making their crops grow well naturally and minimising the impacts on their health, the organic fertiliser benefits the community and the environment,” he said.
The Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries recently reported that Cambodia imports more than $200 million worth of vegetables from neighbouring countries a year.
Noting that only a small portion of fruits and vegetables on the market are organic, the ministry is encouraging the project to improve good agricultural practices (GAP).
It said that as the high price of agricultural fertiliser and pesticides could translate into less income for farmers, natural fertiliser produced from household waste or raw materials is a good option.
