Logo of Phnom Penh Post newspaper Phnom Penh Post - Pursat to reap fruits of labour

Pursat to reap fruits of labour

Content image - Phnom Penh Post
The sprawling 50-hectare area in Pursat primed for an organic market and borey project. Phirun Pov

Pursat to reap fruits of labour

It takes three hours by car to get to the quiet province of Pursat from Phnom Penh, winding westwards along approximately 200 kilometres on National Road 5. Recently, though, the sleepy town has been stirring under some ongoing developments in the form of a combined borey and organic market project.

Slated to be the second largest organic fruit and vegetable market after the one in Battambang province, which was established in 2008, the borey/organic market project is spearheaded by private developer and business tycoon Phou Puy.

The development is located in Pursat’s Pur Takuy village of the Lolok Sor commune.

“We are developing this project on an area of 50 hectares, and it is located about 50 metres from National Road 5,” Puy said.

Content image - Phnom Penh Post
A sign advertises the borey component of the project, spearheaded by Phou Puy. Phirun Pov

“The decision to run this project was because we observed the economic growth of the people around here, as well as the favourable growth of agriculture thanks to the canals and fields,” he added.

Puy is confident that the technical inspection group on his team will raise the quality of products sold by local farmers in the vicinity. He is also adamant that no chemical companies from Thailand or Vietnam will taint the chemical-free produce he aims to promote.

Although it bears the name organic, the produce at the new market will be mostly chemical-free, as there is no certified body of organisation in Cambodia to deduce what products are truly organic or not. Furthermore, real organic produce are oftentimes much more expensive than normal ones.

27 out of the 50 hectares will be dedicated to the borey project, while two hectares will be set aside to all farmers in Pursat to sell their vegetables for free under a five year lease. This was in accordance to an agreement made between Puy and the minister of Mines and Energy, Suy Sem.

“We started this project in mid-2016, and hope to complete it soon,” Puy said.

Content image - Phnom Penh Post
An aerial shot showing Pursat province. Phirun Pov

To date, more than $8 million has been spent on the combined borey and market development, although Puy was unable to pinpoint the exact cost once the project is completed.

At present, around 200 flathouses within the borey project have been booked. Most of them are locals residing in and around Pursat who recognise the ideal location of the development situated near the town.

Each flathouse measures 76 square metres, and costs range between $38,000 and $58,000.

Puy said he made the decision to start the project in order to encourage farmers to grow their own chemical-free produce and reduce the number of imported products.

According to Puy, competition among farmers in the area was tight, thus he wanted to create another outlet to expand their reach and income. At the same time, building a large-scale project such as his would advance the construction and infrastructure progress in the province.

“When the province’s construction sector grows, local people are more encouraged to take better care of the existing infrastructure,” he added.

MOST VIEWED

  • Joy as Koh Ker Temple registered by UNESCO

    Cambodia's Koh Ker Temple archaeological site has been officially added to UNESCO’s World Heritage List, during the 45th session of the World Heritage Committee held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on September 17. The ancient temple, also known as Lingapura or Chok Gargyar, is located in

  • Cambodia set to celebrate Koh Ker UNESCO listing

    To celebrate the inscription of the Koh Ker archaeological site on UNESCO’s World Heritage List, the Ministry of Cults and Religion has appealed to pagodas and places of worship to celebrate the achievement by ringing bells, shaking rattles and banging gongs on September 20. Venerable

  • Ream base allegations must end, urges official

    A senior government official urges an end to the allegations and suspicions surrounding the development of Cambodia’s Ream Naval Base, now that Prime Minister Hun Manet has addressed the issue on the floor of the 78th UN General Assembly (UNGA 78). Jean-Francois Tain, a geopolitical

  • CP denied registration documents by ministry

    The Ministry of Interior will not reissue registration documents to the Candlelight Party (CP). Following a September 21 meeting between ministry secretary of state Bun Honn and CP representatives, the ministry cited the fact that there is no relevant law which would authorise it to do

  • Manet touches down in Beijing for high-level meetings

    Prime Minister Hun Manet arrived in Beijing on September 14 for his first official visit to China, where he is slated to attend the 20th China-ASEAN Expo and meet other leaders including Chinese President Xi Jinping. Upon his arrival, Manet laid a wreath at the Monument

  • Cambodian diaspora laud Manet’s UN Assembly visit

    Members of the Cambodian diaspora are rallying in support of Prime Minister Hun Manet’s forthcoming visit to the 78th UN General Assembly (UNGA 78) in the US’ New York City this week. Their move is an apparent response to a recent call by self-exiled former