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Spring: A Cooperative
Farming Project in Roteang Village
The cooperative farm, established last March in the poorest section of the village, has significantly raised the standard of living for over 32 families, including about 90 children. Under the guidance of head farmer Pang Vanny, three complete crop rotations were planted, tended, and harvested, including corn, pole beans, Chinese cabbage, kailan, tang-or, morning glory, and herbs. The villagers are paid approximately $2 day for a family member working, and the produce is divided among the people as it was picked. The farmers raised enough to pay for their own seed and fertilizer. With the floods now over, the first crops for a new season are already in the ground. Additionally
in the last six months, the same farmers have planted 50 fruit trees in the yards
of the villagers’ houses, so that within two years, papayas, mangoes, jack
fruit and bananas will be abundant in the community. Within the next few weeks,
100 more will be planted. Clean
drinking water - the first local residents have had ever available - was also
an objective for this area; a 50-meter well put in last spring provided parasite
and bacteria-free water for the first time, a huge public health benefit to the
community. Since then, a second well has been donated, and is about ready to be
operational, so that no village will have to walk far for clean, safe water. Why a Cooperative Farming Project? Our mission of helping Cambodia's youngest remains the focal point of this effort, and the project has given their parents a chance to earn steady wages and provide their children with an ample supply of fresh vegetables. Using land rented by the foundation, each family sends one member to work the farm each day, helping grow the six different crops under production at any one time. The harvest is divided among the participating families, and the excess is sold at market. In four short months, the harvests of corn, long beans, cabbage and a variety of other vegetables and herbs have brought in more than $1,600 to reinvest into local community projects. We have also hired one of the village's most successful farmers to provide participants with some of the agricultural skills they need to bring in a successful harvest. The project was started on a trial basis, but so far is quickly proving itself, and participating families tell us they're pleased for the chance to work for their own future, rather than merely receive handouts from charitable organizations. The Ruettgers Family Foundation of Massachusetts has underwritten this project for two years and a recent grant from The Crossroads Community Foundation of Natick, Mass., allows for even further expansion. Interestingly, a tie has developed between our two main projects. Each evening, the farm project hut is used for Khmer lessons to give village girls the basic literacy skills they need to join the sewing classes. A local boy runs these lessons on his own initiative, and we're glad to see the connection and attitude of people-helping-people develop. This is an ambitious project, but very much in line with our mission, "Helping to Care for Cambodia's Children." Shortly after the Farm project was launched, an infant from one of these indigent families was brought to the orphanage by his mother asking for help. The child had had just sweetened water for months - his twin died the week before - and the woman had no way to feed her 15 month-old, severely underweight baby. The child is being cared for at the orphanage and is now eating solid food. His mother visits frequently, and her son will be well enough to return home soon. But the foundation will be providing his food on a long-term basis. The Project Dubbed "Spring" because Spring symbolizes a time of hope, growth, and moving forward, with the assistance of the Village Chief, TSF identified the 32 poorest families in the village. A couple of large fields have were rented and workers from each family seeded, fertilized, put in irrigation from the lake, and supervised the growth of several crops a year. The project has hired as a farming teacher the most successful farmer in the village. The workers, most likely one from a family, would be paid $2 per day each. The produce is divided appropriately for the working and poor families. The excess is sold, with the money going for next crop materials, and/or to micro lend back to families to fix their incredibly poor dwellings.
The village
of Roteang is located about 45 minutes outside of
Phnom Penh, and is bordered by lakes on each side, and a 2 mile road connecting
to Highway 1, the Vietnam road. Approximately 600 families live there. Most villagers
with jobs are fisher folk and some are farmers; extra fish and produce will be
sold easily at little stands up on the highway.
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