Ethics-Based Rice Boosts Farmers’ Income
- By Chhum Chantha
- February 2, 2024 7:10 PM
PHNOM PENH – An ethically based conservation company that grows premium organic jasmine rice has seen a big rise in sales compared with 2022.
IBIS Rice, which cooperates with farmers to preserve valuable and vulnerable ecosystems, saw sales rise by 76%, earning farmers an average of about 3.3 million riel per household.
Keo Socheat, executive director of Sansom Mlup Prey Organization, said the rice sales of farmers in the IBIS Rice enterprise in 2023 saw revenue from the sale of organic rice increase by 14% compared to 2022.
Socheat said the price of IBIS rice ranges from 1,850 riels to 2,050 riels per kilogram, about 54% higher than the average in the market.
“In addition to having a higher price in the market, IBIS Rice enterprise’s farmers have sufficient paddy rice to supply their families,” Socheat said.
“This implementation of the IBIS Rice project has improved the livelihood and encouraged farmers living near the conservation area to actively engage in natural resources protection via organic farming.
“Additionally, the project also helps ensure food security and the members’ livelihoods at target areas.”
The project is being implemented in Preah Vihear, Stung Treng, Ratanakiri and Mondulkiri provinces, with a total of 2,371 households in 2023.
It is supported and co-sponsored by the Ministry of Environment, United States Agency for International Development, Morodok Baitang, WCS Cambodia, Conservation International, Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund, IBIS Rice Conservation Company, Keo Seima REDD+ project, Rising Phoenix and Nature Life Cambodia Organization.
Originally written in Khmer for ThmeyThmey, this story was translated by Rin Ousa for Cambodianess.
