Farming Success Leads to Innovative Small Business
Today, you would hardly recognize one successful local couple as the same struggling pair from two years ago. At that time, they could not earn enough to sustain their family by raising vegetables on their minuscule plot of land, so they had to migrate to other provinces for work. This meant leaving their young children behind with relatives or neighbors, a great source of sadness and friction. They were also burdened by debt incurred when they borrowed money to cover daily expenses. Their lives and relationship were under constant stress.
With technical support and consistent coaching from World Hope International’s Livelihood Team, they were able to slowly improve their production. Enough so that they were able to increase the size of their plot to a quarter of an acre, with plans for further expansion.
Both husband and wife work together full-time on their land, allowing them to stay close to their children and rebuild their family life. Their average daily income has increased, helping them to significantly reduce their debt and ease their emotional and financial stress. The neighbors often comment on the change. “Before, they never smiled. Now, they smile all the time.”
Their hard work and remarkable transformation have inspired others. Five or six neighbors regularly visit their farm in the evenings to observe and learn. This organic, peer-to-peer learning is a powerful ripple effect of the program. The couple has also launched an innovative small business: selling pre-cut vegetable-and-spice bundles. They’ve found a use for substandard vegetables from their farm, cutting out the parts that are spoiled, and chopping up the good parts to package with spices for sale. These bundles serve as a type of “meal kit” for busy neighbors working on rubber plantations. The clever couple has found a way to add value to their crops and reduce waste from the farm at the same time.
These two have not only rebuilt their lives, they’re now teaching, inspiring, and supporting others in their community. Their journey is a powerful testament to resilience, peer learning, and the lasting impact of holistic, community-based support made possible by donors like you.
Cambodia Tbong Khmum Program
Led by World Hope International