Caritas Cambodia: Bank of Rice Store Helps to Reduce Poverty

Posted: 23rd November 2005

Farmers receive rice seeds from the Association

Phnom Penh (C.S.C) --“Now we have 1600 kilograms of rice seeds from Caritas Cambodia. If I have 1 hectare area, how many kilograms should I use? You need 40 kilograms. What about 0.5 hectares? 25 kilograms are enough”. This is a conversation in a meeting of the Association of Rice Store located in Tachou village, Sarikakeo commune and Toul Meas village, Areikhasath commune, Kandal province on 20th September.

This association is part of a plan of community development in Tachou and Tuolmeas village, sponsored by Caritas Cambodia located in Kandal province. Mr. Chap Leapsekdey, one of the coordinators of Lavea Em district, said that “the Association of Rice Store is a new project in this district, but before we implemented it we had to draft a statute.” He added that “the statute needed an agreement between the members, the association and the organization.”

Mr. Chen Kosal, the chief of the first group in Tachou village association, explained that “in order to become a new member of the association, everyone must contribute with 20 kilograms of rice or more, according to their possibility.” All members can borrow rice seeds from the association with an interest of 50%, he added. If any member lacks of rice to eat, he/she can borrow rice from the association with an interest of 20% or 30% and pay the association back after the harvest without interests.

Troubled by the high price of rice, Mr. Chan Sokha, 36, a farmer from the Association of Rice Store in Tuol Meas, told CSC that “he agrees with all the conditions because every member of the Association can benefit from it. Moreover, the seeds he has received from the Association are very good”.

Mr. Ros Chanbo, secretary of the association in Tuol Meas, agreed with the statement above: “The seeds we receive from the Organization are good. According to the Company that prepares these seeds, they (the seeds) can yield much more than other normal seeds.” Mr. Chanbo added: “Before in 1 hectare area I needed 150 kilograms of seeds, but now I have to use only 40/45 kilograms. These seeds are different from the others.”

Mr. Kang Leang, chief of Sarika Keo commune, was very interested in this program and agrees with all the conditions of the statute. He said that both the Association and the villagers can benefit from the program. He was very happy and thankful to Caritas Cambodia for creating the Association of Rice Store in order to reduce poverty, following the government policy. Besides, he added that he will continue to support the development programs in his commune because the vast majority of the villagers is extremely poor and only few of them are rich.

Caritas Cambodia is a NGO which works in Cambodia since 1992. Mostly, it implements Community Developments Programs. Nowadays, Caritas Cambodia works in six provinces: Kandal, Takeo, Kampong Thom, Kampong Cham, Siem Reap and Battambang. The main office is in Phnom Penh.

Article Source: Catholic Social Communications, Cambodia