Between August 19th and 22th, 2013, we had been visiting the Local Talents who attended June's internship on “Organic Farm Clinic” in Thailand. This is a draft of our report and a proposal for action.
Mr. Stefano Portelli (Italy), Cultural anthropologist,
M&E Consultant for Procasur
Mr. Sary Seng (Cambodia), Educator in Development
M&E Consultant for Procasur
● We visited 6 houses of participants to the internship, interviewed them (audio/video), visited their farms
● We organized a collective Workshop with all the participants to discuss the present situation and forward proposals for the future
● We coordinated with Mr. Sok Savuth (MAFF) to evaluate both outcomes and proposals
● We visited 5 houses of participants to the internship, interviewed them (audio/video), visited their farms
● We organized a collective Workshop with all the participants to discuss the present situation and forward proposals for the future
● We coordinated with Mr. Sum Sovann (MAFF) to evaluate both outcomes and proposals
● All the farmers have made considerable efforts to implement in their farms what they learned from Thailand's Prak Chao Banns
● All the farmers have received positive feedback from other members of their communities and organized informal trainings to neighbours and friends
● Many farmers feel confident about the possibility of establishing a sample Community Learning Center in their 2 provinces
● Hazards for health of chemical fertilizers and pesticides
● Home production of organic fertilizers ● Home production of organic cleaning liquid● Home production of compost● “Parachute rice” planting technique● Organic fertilization of rice fields● Organic fertilization of vegetable fields (still in
process)
● Farmers have strong arguments to spread the need of organic agriculture: both the effects on health, and the reduction of money spent to buy chemical fertilizers
● Farmers observed how their teachings received more attention from their peers, compared to professional training previously provided
● The two groups perceive themselves as a reference frames for the establishment of CLCs and as potential cooperatives of producers
● Farmers are aware of the possibility of creating new market outcomes for their organic products, and for the need of proper branding and control of quality
● Many already have commercial experience and networks for distribution of their products
● Need for teaching material used by Prak Chao Banns to be translated into Khmer language (manuals, videos...)
● Meeting among the two groups (rice-vegs) to exchange doubts and experiences
● Assistance in the establishment of Community Learning Centers (infrastructure, training in communication techniques)
● Other trainings, as in seed selection techniques or in the introduction of different crops (ex. bamboo)