Multipurpose Farming Keeps Duot Close to Home
Cambodian farmer Duot used to spend much of his time away from home due to his work as a “middleman,” buying and selling pigs, chickens and cows. However, when local partner OREDA began providing agriculture training in his village in 2014, he started to see that farming could provide him with a good income, right there at home.
He joined the program as a “multipurpose farmer” because he wanted the opportunity to expand his knowledge, learn new techniques from others, and innovate on his own. He especially enjoys the exchange visits the program offers because he likes to see the creativity and solutions of people in other areas.
Duot has had a great deal of success with raising chickens and ducks. His income is now supporting a family of four including his wife, one of his children and one of his grandchildren. Recently, when two of his other children were married, he had enough poultry to supply both receptions with meat. What’s more, Duot is sharing his extra vegetables with neighbors instead of selling them. In the future, he hopes there will be enough vegetable farmers in the area to consistently supply the market.
As part of the Cambodia South program, Duot will train other farmers to follow a similar multipurpose approach. The seven families he has selected want to stay in the community and are willing to work hard on their farms to do so. They don’t want to migrate like many rural Cambodians are forced to do to make a living. Duot said, “I am excited about sharing my learning with others. I see it as an opportunity for myself and for my community. If we have more meat and vegetables available, we can work together as a producer group so that we can consistently supply the market in a way that we could not do alone.”
Photo Caption:Duot intercrops fruit and vegetables in order to maximize space and productivity
Cambodia South program is Led by World Renew and Local Partners
15 communities, 840 households, 3,600 individuals