RCE Greater Phnom Penh
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Phnom Penh is the capital of Cambodia where more than 1.3 million people are living. Phnom Penh covering an area of 290 km2 is located in the south-central region of Cambodia at the confluence of the Tonle Sap, Mekong and Basac Rivers. These rivers provide potential freshwater and other resources.
The Greater Phnom Penh covers Phnom Penh and surrounding provinces; include Kampong Cham, Kampong Chhnang, Kampong Speu, Kandal, Prey Veng and Tako. These provinces being close to Phnom Penh have a strong relation in food demand-supply and economical aspect. Total area and population of Greater Phnom Penh is 34,641 square km and 7,250,881, respectively. More than 90% of population is in rural area in surrounding provinces, although 93% of population in Phnom Penh is in urban area.
Agriculture plays an important role for economic growth with reducing poverty of the people. As rice is the main crop, more than 80% of farmers cultivate rice as the primary crop. Vegetable is the second most important agricultural products being cultivated.
Rapid development of agricultural technologies has significantly increased agricultural production. Currently, the majority of farmers apply agricultural chemicals, such as chemical fertilizers, herbicide or pesticide, to maintain high levels of crop yields. However, the overuse of agricultural chemicals is damaging the long-term soil fertility and productivity of farmlands as well as human’s health and environment.
So, the education for sustainable development (ESD) in agricultural sector is very important for people, especially for students in elementary schools, as they will become farmers in the future. RCE Greater Phnom Penh works to increase public awareness and perception of the importance of making harmony between farming practices and natural environment.
Vision:
The vision of RCE Greater Phnom Penh is to promote ESD through the food, agriculture and environment education for sustainable development in the area of Greater Phnom Penh.
Goals and objectives:
RCE Greater Phnom Penh’s goal is enhancing the activities on the food, agriculture and environment education for local communities and elementary schools at other provinces in Greater Phnom Penh.
The objectives of RCE Greater Phnom Penh are to enhance food, agriculture and environment education for elementary schools through organic farming activities at elementary schools and the facilitator training of school teachers under the collaboration among government, university, local NGO and local community in Phnom Penh and Kampong Cham. Also, the international conference is held regularly for promoting the discussion on sustainable development.
Institute of Environment Rehabilitation and Conservation, Cambodia Branch
Name of organisation: Institute of Environmental Rehabilitation and Conservation
Role: RCE Secretariat Committee
Contact name: Nareth Nut, Mr./Jeeranuch Sakkhamduang, Dr.
Contact email: cam-erecon@hotmail.com; seasia-erecon@hotmail.com
Name of organisation: Royal University of Agriculture, Cambodia
Role: RCE Secretariat Committee
Contact name: Bunthan Ngo, Professor Dr.
Contact email: nbunthan@rua.edu.kh
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- Building capacity on sustainable agriculture based on cyclic use of natural resources for officers in Kampong Cham Provincial Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries and in ten District Office of Agriculture in the province regarding dissemination skills and knowledge from soft (knowledge, skills) to hard (facilities) measures
- Promoting sustainable farming practices based on cyclic use of natural resources for local farmers
- Promoting conditions for sales of agricultural products with low chemical inputs
Low chemical input farm from the previous project becomes a learning place for visitors (Photo credit: RCE Greater Phnom Penh)
- Workshops and trainings on promoting sustainable farming practices focusing on Integrated Pest Management and Irrigation techniques for officers and local farmers
- Establish Center for Promoting Sustainable Agriculture in provincial and district levels
- Research project on adding value on agricultural products in Kampong Cham province
Agricultural extension officers learn the methods to produce microbial pesticide (Photo credit: RCE Greater Phnom Penh)
RCE GPP conducted a project on Promoting Sustainable Agriculture at Kampong Cham Province in Cambodia, funded by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) in Samrong Commune in Prey Chor District from April 2011 to March 2016.
The project provided knowledge about sustainable practices to farmers without the use of low chemicals and also integrating sustainable agriculture and ESD in school curricula. The achievements of the project included:
- Increased famers’ capacity in sustainable agricultural practices
- Improved human well-being and social equity, reducing environmental risks and ecological scarcities
- Promoted ESD in schools and communities
- Addressed national policy towards improving agricultural production both quantity and quality
- Addressed several Sustainable Development Goals such as SDG-2 on Hunger, SDG-4 on Education, and SDG-12 on Sustainable Consumption and Production
Based on the achievements of the previous project, the project of Promoting Sustainable Agricultural Conditions for Poverty Reduction in Kampong Cham Province, Cambodia of RCE Greater Phnom Penh under the collaboration of ERECON, Royal University of agriculture (RUA), Cambodia, Provincial Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (PDAFF), Kampong Cham, Kampong Cham National School of Agriculture (KPCNSA) and Farmers Groups for Promoting Sustainable Agriculture has launched on September 2017 and will be terminated on October 2020. The project aims to promote sustainable agricultural conditions through various forms of education for change agents (agricultural extension officers) and farmers in the province. Through education for sustainable development, farming conditions based on sustainable agriculture will be set up in the project areas.
Agricultural extension officer explains soil conservation and soil fertility improvement techniques to farmers and youths (monk) (Photo credit: RCE Greater Phnom Penh)
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nbunthan@rua.edu.kh
cam-erecon@hotmail.com
Cambodia Branch, Southeast Asia Office,
Institute of Environment Rehabilitation and Conservation
Address: In Royal University of Agriculture (RUA),
P.O. Box 2696 Chamkardong, Dangkor district, Phnom Penh, 12401 Cambodia