We have Distributed Vegetable Seeds and Provided Agricultural Training
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February 14th,
2012- We distributed vegetable seeds and complimentary items such fertilizer
and gardening tools to the floods victims. (Chreav Commune, Siem Reap)
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In response to the
massive flooding that struck Cambodia last year, AAR JAPAN distributed food and
non-food items to 3,000 households in the disaster-affected areas. In
continuation, we have been carrying out an agricultural assistance project
targeting 840 households in the same areas. By distributing vegetable seeds
that can be harvested relatively quickly such as sponge gourd, morning glory,
and long beans, as well as gardening equipment such as hoes, watering cans,
insect-proof nets, fertilizer, and pesticide, our objective is to support those
who had lost their harvest in the floods restart farming again. Furthermore, in
collaboration with agricultural trainers from local NGO “HURREDO,” we have also
conducted a hands-on training program to give instructions on modern farming
techniques including how to prepare a seedbed, use fertilizer, build poles,
protect the vegetables from insects, and properly water the plants.
“We lost our harvest in the floods and couldn’t pay our children’s
school fees.”
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March 12th,
2012- Mr. Mounn Po’s wife showed us their eggplant buds that were starting to
sprout.
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In Sambour Commune of
Siem Reap where Mr. Mounn Po (male, 39 years old) lives, the floods continued
between September and November of last year. The floodwater level around his
rice field reached 1.2m, and the rice crop that would have been harvested
during the rainy season was completely damaged. His vegetable garden was also
inundated and he lost his source of income as a result. During this period, he
was unable to pay his children’s school fees, which prevented them from
attending school. Moreover, he was constantly fearful that his youngest child
would fall in the water.
In February, Mr.
Mounn Po participated in the 2-day agricultural training program supported by
AAR JAPAN. He is currently growing the vegetable seeds (morning glory, pak
choy, cucumber, wax gourd, sponge gourd, long beans, and eggplant) that he had
received at the training along with a set of gardening tools. On March 12th,
staff members of AAR JAPAN and HURREDO trainers visited Mr. Po’s home to
monitor the growth of the vegetables, and also provided advice regarding how to
fight off pests, use fertilizer, and so on.
Vegetables Successfully Harvested Yield Income
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March 30th,
2012- Mr. Mounn Po and his wife stand next to a maturing sponge gourd.
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On March 30th,
we visited Mr. Mounn Po’s home again and discovered that he had harvested and
sold 30kg of morning glory. He told us that he used a part of his earning to
pay his children’s school fees. We were also able to see that the other
vegetables were growing very well. He told us, “Before, it used to take about a
month for morning glory to reach harvest time, but now it’s been reduced to
about half a month. It must be the fertilizer.” Through our assistance, we are
hoping that those affected by the floods are able to regain and reconstruct their
livelihood.
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March 30th,
2012- Mr. and Mrs. Mounn Po with Yuichiro YAMAMOTO (left) of Tokyo Headquarters
Office. Pictured in front of them is a row of wax gourd.
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February 17th,
2012- During the agricultural training session, the trainer from HURREDO (back
center) gives a seminar and hands-on training on the latest farming
techniques. (Sambour Commune, Siem Reap)
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March 27th,
2012- We have been making home visits of those who participated in the training
to monitor the growth of their vegetables. Pictured on the far left is Tomoko
SONODA of Tokyo Headquarters Office and to her right is a HURREDO trainer. (Chreav
Commune, Siem Reap)
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March 27th,
2012- How big will this sponge gourd get? (Chreav Commune, Siem Reap)
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*This
project was made possible thanks to a grant provided by Japan Platform in
addition to generous individual donations.
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Yuichiro YAMAMOTO, AAR
JAPAN Tokyo office
Joined
AAR JAPAN’s Tokyo office in November, 2011. After graduating from a university
in the USA and completing a master’s degree in the UK, worked as an educational
consultant in Indonesia. Joined AAR JAPAN in the hopes to take part in the Great
East Japan Earthquake recovery.
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