• Society

Get Advice to Avoid Vegetables Glut, an expert Urged

• By Chhum Chantha
• January 19, 2024 11:55 AM

PHNOM PENH – Farmers who can’t sell their vegetables because of overproduction in the industry should rethink their approach and consult experts before planting, an expert advises.

Gluts and limited markets have been a problem for years, with farmers pleading on social media for people to buy their produce.

Chua Makara, founder of the Cambodia Agricultural Cooperation Union (CACU), said this happened because farmers copied each other without learning new skills.

Farmers might also fail to communicate properly with the professionals who provide the techniques and materials needed for the best yields. 

However, a lack of professional agriculture consultants poses issues for the farmers. 

Makara said harvested vegetables will be rotten after one week, leading to the loss of profits, if farmers cannot find a market.

“They should consult experts to avoid such problems.”

Building a digital farming community 

CACU can supply two tonnes of organic vegetables per day, grown by farmers of Ponleu Thmey Pich Chenda Agricultural Community in Battambang province’s Phnom Preuk district. The community consists of about 50 families.

Chua Makara said he managed the farmers’ data using software and they were paid through the banking system, which was productive and effective management.

He encouraged other communities to collect the data of farmers, have a solid growing plan and develop convenient delivery as well as a balanced market.

“Our community uses digital management,” he said. “Initially, the farmers did not want to be involved in digital payment. However, eventually, they found it easy to use it.”

Other communities had failed due to a lack of human resources that could equip members with productive management.

 

Originally written in Khmer for ThmeyThmey, this article was translated by Nhor Sokhoeurn for Cambodianess.