គម្រោង PCRL

Field Work in Pursat

On Tuesday, 12th March 2024, the PCRL Consultant Team conducted a meeting with an AC namely “Srokar Ponlork Thmey”, located in Srokar village, Boeng Khna commune, Bakan district, Pursat province. With the kind facilitation of Mr. Hai Thoura, Pursat PDAFF Director, the meeting was to review the trajectory of the AC’s establishment, current business operation, and plans for the coming year. The meeting was participated by 13 representatives of AC’s board director and members.  The meeting also discussed by-laws and the general management of the AC, contract farming, rice seed production, capacity building program of the AC, farmers' livelihoods, water and irrigation issues, and gender status.

It is observed that the AC “Srokar Ponlork Thmey” has fulfilled the by-law with a valid certificate until 2026. This AC was established in 2006 with their initial members of 48 households, 24 households were women-led, and their capital was valued at 1,674,000 riels. By 2024, the active members are 104 households including 41 women-led households. The current capital value is 190,805,400 riels.

There are three main businesses of the AC such as micro-credits, agricultural inputs supplies, and the production of rice seed. It is important to note that, the rice seed producer group had potentially produced the seed of Phkar Rumdol, and Sen Kroob, obtaining 4 tons/ha of yield but due to market demand of the national varieties drop, they have now postponed their production. Despite the difficulties and market uncertainty, one producer is still motivated and is producing 1 ha of the newly released variety “CPS70” with strong support from Pursat PDAFF.

Following the schedule, the PCRL Consultant Team arranged another meeting with Phteah Rung Roeung AC in Phteah Rung commune, Talou Sen Chey district, Pursat province. 12 representatives of the AC hosted the meeting and provided their inputs on current business. A similar agenda was put into the discussion. The AC is certified by the PDAFF, and presently working with 195 households (161 are women-led households) with a total capital of 653,472,700 Riels, with main business activities, including micro-credits, agricultural input supplies, and rice seed production. The challenges of business are loan repayment from the members, and low profits from business activities, while the seed production has been dropped since last year.