From the Rice Fields: Seang Ngoch’s New Steps

Like many women farmers around the Tonle Sap, Ngoch’s work is shaped by long days, unpredictable weather, and uncertain market prices. Yet she continues, driven by responsibility, resilience, and hope for better opportunities.

In November 2025, Ngoch took a step that few farmers from her village ever get the chance to take: she traveled to Phnom Penh to participate in the Cambodia Agriculture Forum and Exhibition 2025 (CAFE25), bringing samples of her rice with her.

“From 13 to 16 November 2025, I came from my community to join the PCRL team at CAFE25. I brought a few hundred kilos of milled rice with me, hoping visitors would be interested. I felt excited and a bit nervous too, but I really wanted to see what the event would be like,” she said.

Over four busy days, Ngoch stood behind her rice, explaining how it is grown around the Tonle Sap, answering questions from visitors, and speaking with potential buyers. People stopped to taste her cooked rice, asked for contact details, and wanted to know more about the cooperative. With every conversation, her confidence grew.

By the final afternoon, every bag of rice she brought had sold out.

“I am very happy because I did not expect that all the rice I brought would be sold out. It makes me feel proud and encouraged, and next year I want to bring even more rice and products to sell,” she said.

Ngoch’s cooperative has been supported through the Promoting Climate-resilient Livelihoods in Rice-farming Communities in the Tonle Sap Region (PCRL) project, funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF) through the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). PCRL works with farming communities to strengthen improved rice seed production and climate-smart farming techniques, aiming to reach 37,000 agricultural households across the Tonle Sap region. The project is jointly implemented by the General Directorate of Agriculture (MAFF) and the General Directorate of Local Community (MoE).

For cooperatives like Ngoch’s, this support translates into practical change: stronger production capacity, better quality rice, and greater resilience in the face of a changing climate. The milled rice she carried to CAFE25 was a visible result of that progress rice produced with improved seed and better practices, backed by a cooperative that is learning, improving, and moving forward.

For Ngoch, CAFE25 was never only about sales. It was about stepping outside her village and seeing how far a farmer’s work can travel. She attended presentations, exchanged ideas, and felt the energy of an agricultural community that stretches well beyond her home province.

One moment stayed with her the most. “Meeting the Senior Minister was something I will never forget. I come from a small farming community in Siem Reap, and I never imagined I would stand in front of a senior official like that. I gave him a bag of our rice as a small gift from our cooperative. It made me feel that our hard work is being seen,” Ngoch said, her eyes bright with pride.

CAFE25 generated USD 1.3 million in trade, attracted 50 investors from 10 countries, and unlocked USD 78 million in partnerships under exploration. The event welcomed 21,507 visitors and engaged more than 2,000 farmers, opening market opportunities for producers like Ngoch and strengthening the links between rural communities and wider markets.

With a big smile, Seang Ngoch reflected on what she would carry home:

“When I go back home to Siem Reap, I won’t just bring empty rice bags. I’m bringing back more courage. I met many new people, and I feel more confident now about our cooperative. Next year, I want to come again, and I will bring even more rice.”

This International Women’s Day, Ngoch’s story reminds us that when women farmers gain knowledge, recognition, and access to markets, they grow more than food; they grow confidence, resilience, and hope for their families and communities.