It All Begins With a Seed

Like many smallholder farmers, Sony once faced uncertainty. He used mixed-quality rice seeds and depended on advice from neighbours or agro-input vendors who often promoted costly fertilizers and pesticides. Yields fluctuated, quality was inconsistent, and accessing stable markets or fair prices was a constant struggle.

Everything began to change in 2024, when his partnership commenced with the Promoting Climate-resilient Livelihoods in Rice-based Communities in the Tonle Sap Region (PCRL) Project, supported by the Global Environment Facility (GEF) and implemented by Food and Agriculture Orgniaztion of the United Nations (FAO) in collaboration with the General Directorate of Agriculture of the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries and the General Directorate of Local Community of the Ministry of Environment.

Through the project, he received registered Phka Romduol rice seeds, hands-on training, and technical guidance in seed production. He dedicated two hectares to seed production and one hectare to paddy rice. With improved techniques such as drum seeding and transplanting, he reduced seed use by more than half, cutting costs while achieving stronger, more uniform plant growth.

During the 2024 harvest season, Sony’s fields became a demonstration site for other farmers. The PCRL project organized a Farmers’ Field Day, connecting him with local farmers, authorities, buyers, and input suppliers. These exchanges not only opened new markets for his rice seeds but also inspired neighbouring farmers to adopt similar practices.

“The seeds are selling faster than we can keep up,” Sony said with a grin after a morning in the field. “All four of us who started have already expanded our land. What’s truly exciting is seeing other farmers take notice. They’ve seen the results with their own eyes and are now joining with confidence, ready to follow our lead.”

Aligned with the spirit of World Food Day 2025, which calls for collective action to build better food systems, Sony’s story reflects how change begins at the community level — one seed, one farmer, one cooperative at a time.

“When farmers like Mr. Sony lead change from within their own communities, it shows what true resilience looks like,” said Ms. Rebekah Bell, FAO Representative in Cambodia. “With the right seeds, the right knowledge, and the right partnerships, farmers are not only improving their own livelihoods, they are becoming champions of climate-smart agriculture and inspiring a new generation across rural Cambodia.”

Motivated by their success, Sony aims to formally register their seed producer team with its own name and logo, reflecting their shared identity and ambition, a step he believes will help them stand strong together and reach bigger markets. In just one year, the seed producer group has expanded from four members cultivating 2.5 hectares to ten members managing 10 hectares of certified seed production.

With the support of the PCRL project, farmers across Pursat, Battambang, Banteay Meanchey, Siem Reap, and Kampong Thom are demonstrating what “Hand in Hand for Better Food and a Better Future” truly means — farmers, government partners, and FAO working together to ensure no one is left behind in Cambodia’s agrifood transformation.