Concept Note

Problem statement

During Cambodian prolonged civil war in Cambodia, some areas of Battambang province
considered front-line of factional fighting, the areas requested for proposed project are also
front line of civil war, in that time the number of population evacuated to live nearby Thai
Border (different Camps along Khmer-Thai border).

During the civil war, people sent to front line, and some of them disabled by mine and number
of them wounded by landmine/unexploded ordnance that left during the civil war, they are
disabled, they lives in worsen conditions.

Presently, the drudgery of using the traditional farming systems have led many young people
and women to migrate as seasonal laborers to urban areas which disrupts the communities and
make them vulnerable to threats in urban areas such as unemployment, exploitation by
employers, child and women trafficking etc..
The main economic infrastructure of Cambodia is agriculture and the government has continually
been working on improving its agricultural infrastructures. The increase in population has led to
high demand for food. With poor weather, lack of knowledge and skills, and financial
incapability, most farmers are now fleeing the farms to seek non-farming income generating
alternatives. This has further created more problems in the urban areas as the unemployment and
crime rates coupled with high incidences of disease outbreaks have soared in recent time.
Food situation of rural poor households in Cambodia has generally not improved substantially
in the recent period, the majority of rural poor households’ experiences food shortage for
several months each year to such an extent that malnutrition causes stunting of children.

In Cambodia, women play major role in all components of food security whether in food
production, marketing, household income or as care takers, their role is negatively impacted by
issues such as high illiteracy rates among women. Alternatively, lack of education and
knowledge, and poor health nutritional status (very high maternal mortality rates and iron-
deficiency anemia prevalence of 65% among pregnant women) are the main concerns.
Furthermore, malnutrition is widespread among poor rural women and children, Cambodia has
some of the highest malnutrition rates in Asia, with 44% of children fewer than five years of
age stunted and 15% wasted. Micronutrient deficiencies such as iodine deficiency anemia
(IDA) are widespread and hamper the full use of human potential for development.

In early, December 2008, we conducted baseline survey in three communes (Wat Tamim,
Odambang Mouy and Ounlong Vil) of Sangker district, Battambang province. We also reached
to the community people, meeting with farmers, survivors from landmine/unexploded ordnance
and other different stakeholders in the communes
The baseline survey founded that among 8,509 families (39,041 persons); there are 1,749
female-headed households. The 312 men and 123 women are Survivors from
landmine/unexploded ordnance and the poorest families are 3,121 families, it is equal to 36.67
% of total population in the three communes. There are 21 villages, 9 villages selected and
food security in most of these villages is quite low, according to the participatory rural
appraisal (PRA) done by the team, 42 % of villagers (including to survivor families from
landmine/unexploded ordnance) are not able to meet their basic need year-round. The local
authorities reported 36 % of income earners (men and women) reported to Thai border and
Thailand for some kind of work. These make communities and families quite unstable and
vulnerable to divorce, HIV/Aids, drug use, social dislocation and form of exploitation etc….
For agricultural production, the PRA showed that soil quality is decreasing because farmers
have used much chemical fertilizer, and farmers lack knowledge to produce organic compost,
the farmers lack marketing to communicate with consumers for selling their products, some
farmers are migrants to other countries, while they left their farm free, and no benefit from
their farm. The baseline survey showed that these three communes are potential areas for
organic vegetable farm, and the water is available, even though in the dry season, however we
built an irrigation canal system and 300 families in Wat Tamim and Odambang Mouy
commune taking water from canal every year from Dec to June.

According to the Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA) reported and showed that the majority of
farmers still used chemical fertilizer on their rice-cultivation, the report added that they found
78% in 100 farmers used chemical fertilizer; this is very worst conditions, which affected on
soil quality. The reported noted that the quality of soil at the meantime is poorer than poorer
and affected to the health of consumers, the fruits appear good, but the taste is poor, the
chemical fertilizer cost high, the farmers cannot produce and they need to use every year. The
water resources are available in some parts of village areas, if the farmers cannot do any
agricultural business, they are free, nothing to get, and force them to look for work outside
their hometown, the major off-farm income generating activities involved migrant labor in
urban areas and neighboring countries. In addition, according to the assessment, the low food
security production is the result; they have free time, rice monoculture, poor soil fertilizer, poor
agricultural techniques, water resources for cultivation, and no access to credit scheme for
agricultural inputs. This project therefore designs to build basic capacity to farmers for incomes
and food security through training /field visit, set up organic vegetable farm, marketing , family
economic assessment and planning for effective expense.

Project Goal

The key aims of project for three-year term will improve food for life expectancy, health and
economic improvement to 60 selected poor farmers for 12 villages of three communes in
Battambang province, Cambodia. The key objectives of the project will focus on capacity
building to 60 selected farmers through.

• Composting workshop, visit to compost recycling site, exposure visit to organic

vegetable farms.
• Set up pilot organic vegetable farms to 60 selected farmers, practical field work on their
farm.
• Set up dragon tree seedling field for 350 trees to create dragon seed to contribute for
poor farmers.
• Organize sanitation workshop for 450 farmers for malaria disease awareness.
• Organize water sanitation workshop for 255 farmers.
• Organize marketing workshop for 60 selected farmers.
• Economic assessment to 60 selected farmers.
• Perform mobile marketing for Saturday and Sunday for organic vegetable products.

We also organizes 12 water pump sets for above 60 families to use for their organic mixed
crops, and water pumps will be used among members, based on water pump’s statute. The
project will also provide good compost that purchases from compost recycling supply to
distribute for the targeted farmers to improve good quality of their soil for mixed crops, but
they majority contribute manure compost and other sources of organic that they can save from
their communities.
Project Description
Project title: “Organic integrated agriculture to stable food security, health and economic
improvement for rural poor farmers”
Project locations: 12 villages, all in Odambang Mouy, Wat Tamim and Ounlong Vil
communes, All in Sangkae district, Battambang province, Cambodia
Project term: 3 years

Cambodia is presently experiencing a transition from a country of turmoil rancour and political
instability to that which is in a threshold of a more normal development paradigm. Faced with
years of isolation and conflict, the country has continually experienced a devastated physical,
social and economic instability and has only recently been embarking on a complete rebuilding
of its infrastructure and institutions. The ensuring political stability has brought about an increase
in population and need for increased food production. The main economic infrastructure of
Cambodia is agriculture and agricultural activities in Cambodia are solely dependent on the
weather, consequently, it is essential to enhance irrigation activities for food security. Besides the
problem of weather, farmers lack basic education, technical knowledge of farming systems and
crop utilization has continuously resulted to lower crop yields.
This poor agricultural productivity has led farmers in the rural areas to live below the poverty
line. The government has continually taken a holistic approach to improve its agricultural
development programs but limited financial and human resources have hampered these efforts.

This project therefore designed to bring about increase in food production through provision of
basic infrastructures to farmers, training of farmers on modern agricultural production skills, and
initiating crop diversification programs 12 villages, three communes in Sangkae district,
Battambang province, Cambodia
It is expected that this initiative will compliment government efforts in its national development
and food security initiatives.

Level of our work

We works in partnership with commune development councils, district and provincial
authorities, we also fosters its work with some relevant departments in the provincial levels.
We have experienced many years for integrated agricultural activities in Battambang province;
it received evaluated and recommended letters from governmental agricultural departments and
authorities in Battambang province.

Partnership with other projects in the target areas

If the project is approved, we will combine this project with irrigation project, which runs from
Dec to June every year, the project contributes water for agricultural production in Wat Tamim
and Odambang Mouy communes. And also we will combine with Composting project will be
organized by COMPED and by us in the future. The project is strongly motivated and
supported from local authorities and relevant departments from government.
Mr. Khieth Phat is the acting Director of Sangkae district office for agriculture; He supervises
agricultural sectors in this Sangkae district and he worked with the government for agricultural
and husbandry sectors since 1984, he strongly supports this project.
His contact telephone number is (855-12) 654 784

Objectives of Project

• Build basic capacity to farmers through field visit to Compost recycling site/ visit
organic vegetable farm, 60 farmers selected to invite.
• Establish pilot organic vegetable farm in the communities, 60 families of farmers
formed to be 12 groups.
 • Farmer’s basic health improvement, 450 community people selected to provide
mosquito nets and 255 filtering processing containers.
• Marketing guidance to farmers, 60 farmers invited to attend.
• Family economic assessment and planning, we will assess economic impact for 60
families, and make recommendations for future effective expense.
• Perform mobile market on Sunday and Saturday to promote organic vegetable products.

Why do the farmers need to go to the organic?

• Organic produce does not contain poisonous chemical residues; most of the synthetic
chemicals used in the farms find their way into rivers, streams and underground water
where majority of Cambodians get their water.
• Fresh organic produce contains on average 50% more vitamins, minerals, enzymes and
other micronutrients than intensively farmed produce. Several studies have shown
increased fertility for animals and people who eat organic produce.
• Intensive chemical farming can seriously damage the farm workers. There are much
higher instances of cancer, respiratory problems and other major diseases in farm
workers from non-organic farms.
• Going organic is the only practical way to avoid eating genetically modified (GM)
food.
• Organic produce simply tastes so much better, fruits and vegetables full of juice and
flavor, and so many different varieties to try.
• Organic farms support and nurture our beautiful and diverse wildlife, over the last thirty
year years, the infamous Green Revolution has led to dramatic erosion of the soil, a fall
up to 70% of wild birds in some areas, the destruction of ancients landscape, and the
near extinction of some of the most beautiful species of butterflies, beneficial insects
and wild mammals.
• We spend millions every year cleaning up the mess that agro-chemicals make to our
natural water supply and treating the diseases caused by the agro chemicals.
• For the last three decades, the Green revolution has failed to ensure food security and
year after year, millions are facing hunger, yet organic agriculture holds the key to food
security, organic will support increased stable production and increased incomes for our
small- scale farmers.
• There are more gains to the society in general: better environment and recirculation of
nutrients, biological diversity, food quality and safety, reduced use of non -renewable
energy.

Criteria to select beneficiaries

• families of survivors from landmine/unexploded ordnance, families have more than

four children
• families are female-headed families; they have more than three children
• poorest families that families have more than five children

Proposed Activities
Organic integrated organic management and exposure visit to compost recycling site and
organic vegetable farm
We will select farmers through procedural criteria form, for the first year, we will select 20
farmers from nine villages in three communes. With conjunction with Compost, The training in
integrated farming will be established to promote diversification and crop rotation.
The farmers will be trained and encouraged to plant subsidiary crops to rice in soils not suitable
for rice production such as corn, vegetable, sweet potatoes, taro, dragon tree and Cassava to
complement rice as the major stable food. They will also be taught about the utilization of the
new crops for their food. The farmers will learn about integrated farming and crop rotation
techniques, which will protect the fertility of the soil, crop. Home gardening with vegetable
production for own consumptions and sale will be promoted in order to improve nutrition and
generate income. Farmers will also learn how to use and recycle natural farm waste materials,
which can be useful for other aspects of agriculture. Ex: Manure and household waste will be
collected and used to make compost to improve rice and vegetable production. The farmers
will attend composting workshop, organized by us for 4 days in Phnom Penh, after workshop,
20 farmers will visit the Compost recycling site, and brainstorming their knowledge with
explanation from COMPED project manager. We will also organize other exposure visits for
farmers to visit organic vegetable farm with agricultural NGOs in other provinces, they can
gain their knowledge and experience from their workshop and field visits. When they come
back to their farm, they can practice their knowledge to set up organic farm on 3,000 m2 for
mixed vegetable crop.
The project will select 20 farmers from 9 villages for the first year, 20 farmers for the second
year and 20 farmers for thirds year, total 60 farmers will involve with project for three-year
term.

Organic vegetable farm

Each farmer will organize land 3,000 m2 to grow mixed vegetable according to the marketing
demand. The project will contribute agricultural tools for them, they can use water pump
among their group, the project also provide some amount of compost, but they have to collect
much as they can do to use on their farms. For the first year, the project will organize dragon
seedling tree field, we will seed 350 trees, for the second year the project will provide seed to 9
families, the each family will crop 100 trees, and for the third year 27 families can get dragon
seed to grow on their farms.

Organize water pumps for farmers

The project plans to support farmers to set up water pumps user groups, a water pump user
group will have an average of five members. This allows a significantly improved access to
water supply for the field during the dry season, thus giving the farmers a chance to cultivate
subsidiary crops of new products such as corn, beans, vegetable etc…
Within one year, members will elect a water pump community for the management of water
pumps. They will organize the time scheduling for the use of the water pump, collect user fees
from the farmers after harvest, manage the revolving funds, and organize proper pumps use and
maintenance. User fees will cover all running cost of the pump including depreciation.

Organize market-guiding workshop

The project will invite 20 selected farmers to attend market-guiding workshop, we will invite
trainer from Success Education system (SES), and we invite key speakers from University to
deliver key notes on marketing. After workshop, we will organize meeting between owners of
restaurants and hotels and farmers to discuss and brainstorm about what kind of fruits and
vegetable which hotels and restaurants need for their clients?
The farmers will learn about marketing, demand from their clients. The farmers have chance to
introduce their fruits and vegetable to their clients, the clients also learn about how the farmers
grow vegetable without using chemicals, they use only organic.

Organize sanitation workshop

With economic improvement, the project will focus on the farmers’ health, the project will
Contribute basic health awareness to 705 farmers and other community people, the project will
provide 255 processing containers and mosquito nets to 450 community people to improve
hygiene/ sanitation and prevent malaria disease.

Organize pilot public marketing on Saturday and Sunday at downtown

We will ask provincial governor for farmers to establish mobile market for organic vegetable
products, they can promote their organic products on Saturday and Sunday market, the con
summers can look for organic vegetable products in the city on mobile market.

Economic impact
We will make economical assessment to farmers, staff will develop plan for farmers to use for
future effective family expense. Farmers will learn their weakness and strength and they will
define their expense to what is necessary and not necessary for their livelihood.

Expected outputs, outcomes and impact on the environment and communities

• Reduced to use chemical pesticide and fertilizer, in term of using organic compost in
some parts of three communes , changed to improve soil quality for agriculture, useful
earthworms, are being and create more soil quality, to make soil quality better, and
better
• The consumers eat products from using organic production; get better health, not
spending much money to buy medicine, changed to reduce poverty in their families
• The farmers pay less money every year for purchasing compost or making compost,
they can save compost, if they use chemical fertilizer, it is very expensive, and they
cannot save this, changed to their old methods to use organic compost in term of not
suing much chemical fertilizer
• Farmers learn how to market their products in market, restaurants and hotels, changed
to convince more clients and more benefits for their living
• Regarding to health improvement, Community people commits to drink water from
processing filtering containers and use mosquito nets to prevent incidences caused from
waterborne and malaria disease
• Farmers learn how to plan for income and expense for their families, changed to stable
their incomes and better life
• The skin is bright pink in color with green petal like stalks, compared to other fruit; the
taste is almost sweet though it does not contain many calories. The small black seeds
are slightly crunchy and remind me of kiwi fruit. These are excellent source of fiber. It
is a bit like eating a soft melon though with a higher water content. However, the taste
is quite bland, the fruit contains large amounts of Potassium and Calcium and Vitamin
C. it is not only to protect cancer, to improve more water in body, but also to coordinate
the stomach and colon to breath smoothly

How the project will indirectly contribute to reducing poverty for target groups
The project will have multiplier effect in the area of gender, youths and childcare. About 57%
of the population in the target area is women (2,205) of the population are below 18 years of
age and majority of the children are malnourished. The income generation capacities of the
women will increase, because they will have opportunities for participating in the marketing of
the farm produce and gainfully employed in the area of food processing. The children on the
other hand will have access to good and nutritive food other than the rice they have been used
to since the crop diversification component of the project will enhance the production of other
crops. All family members are 3,870 persons will indirectly benefit from different activities of
project in three years.

Beneficiaries’ involvement in the planning and implementation of the project

We worked with community people in three communes to get them much involved in the
project, and we wants community people involve with all the process with the project design,
we are in the field and worked with and interviewed them in order to conduct baseline survey,
much information and baseline data collected are wrapped in the proposal

Monitoring and reporting schedules

We will monitor the process of project implementation in accordance with the work plan and
timeframe approved. The project officers will make a narrative report to Project Coordinator in
every month so that the Project Coordinator is able to update the progressive activities.
The project officers will meet regularly with the stakeholders to monitor the process and
progress of project implementation and to ensure the participation of the target groups.
• Regular visit by project coordinator, community project officers, planning and
monitoring officers.
• Monthly staffs meeting chaired by project coordinator.
• Regular dialogues and meetings with beneficiaries.
• Periodic visits by government and Donors representatives.
• Report schedule will be consistent with the Donor report form provided.

Project Sustainability
The project focuses on training and building capacity through workshop and exposure visit of
the beneficiaries including the provincial agricultural staffs, district authorities, commune,
villages’ authorities and farmers will use their knowledge and experiences to improve the
quality of soil to make agricultural productivity as the demands of consumers. The provincial
agricultural department, district authorities, and commune development councils are the key
persons to advise and consult with farmers on compost recycling. Water pumps are organized
for targeted groups based on water pump’s statute, these water pumps will be used for the
whole community advantage. The 5 families form into one group that selected its supervisor.
The term of the water pump will be adapted in statute in order to make the project has long
sustained, the target groups will be organized nearby water resources available at the village
areas on the whole seasons. The farmers will learn by doing with water to improve their better
living with their creative ideas and busy hands on mixed crops. We are very keen significantly
committed to train the villagers to be productive persons and form cooperative centre for
customers to buy the products. This will be sustained and farmers can earn more profit for their
families. The project extends itself to new beneficiaries by requiring some form of remittance
specific to each activity. The project will use holistic, integrated, participatory rural
developments approach, aiming at long-term sustainable economical, socio-cultural and
environmental development. All project components are designed to enable a maximum
participation and contribution of the beneficiaries in order to reach ownership and
sustainability. As much as possible locally available material will be used to support the local
economy. The project focuses on training and capacity building of the beneficiaries their
families and the communities in order to make the activities sustainable.