Lessening poverty among egg producer in rural areas
Published: Jul 10, 2024 Reading time: 3 minutes Share: Share an articleCambodia, one of the agricultural-based and labour exporting countries, has been greatly affected by the spike of the COVID-19 pandemic resulting in agro-value chain shortage and return of large numbers of migrant workers, specifically in the Tonle Sap region.
Given this situation, in partnership with Cambodian Institute Research and Rural Development (CIRD) we are implementing the "RECOVER: Rural Employment for COVID-19 Economic Recovery" project , funded by the European Union and the Czech Republic Development Agency (CzDA), which aims to respond to the impacts of COVID-19 on multiple rural groups along the Cambodian Tonle Sap Region. The project strongly focuses on promoting inclusive employment and income for affected groups through the improvement of the horticulture and poultry farming sectors.
Within three years of the project, we have supported 29 Agriculture Cooperatives (formed 116 groups with a total of 2,900 members) and worked in coordination with producer groups to ensure that they have better income/livelihood and improved poultry technical practices.
Ms. Oeung Kanh is one of our producer group members who has had the opportunity to join the project and participate in technical training on poultry production, business plan formulation, market linkages, and access to affordable capital.
However, during the pandemic, she experienced difficulties growing chilli and having no market to sell to, and her children became unemployed during this time. Moreover, she had debt and was unable to settle it during the pandemic.
When Kanh joined the RECOVER project, and became an egg producer. She produces eggs by using Artificial Insemination (AI), a technique promoted by the project. She started with 50 chickens for her parents’ stock. She underwent technical training, enabling her to learn more about disease management for chickens, to keep track of financial records, nutrient production, and feeding methods. With this newly acquired knowledge, she can care for her chickens so that they grow faster and healthier.
She has grown her number of chickens, which helped her produce about 400 to 500 eggs, equal to 400.000 riel to 500.000 riel per month. Her earnings have increased as she began to follow more effective methods to ensure that her chickens are healthy. The monthly income Kanh now earns has most definitely helped her slowly tackle her financial issues, and most importantly, ensure a stable livelihood for herself.
The RECOVER project is funded by the European Union in Cambodia and the Czech Republic Development Agency (CzDA). The content in this article is the sole responsibility of People in Need (PIN) and its project partners within the consortium and does not necessarily reflect the views of the European Union and the Czech Republic Development Agency.
