Over 75% of Cambodians live in rural areas, and agriculture accounts for about a quarter of gross domestic product. However, the country currently imports more vegetables than it collects. Realizing the profitability of their cultivation, the people of Cambodia abandon rice cultivation and switch to vegetable crops.

“After the Khmer Rouge, agriculture focused mainly on rice,” said Borarin Buntong, director of research and information at RUA.

“But now people no longer think about rice. They want to grow fruits and vegetables. Many families can now enjoy these types of products in their daily lives. This is a big change for Cambodia. ”

By transforming rice fields into vegetable fields, producers were able to diversify their activities with high-quality crops. Studies have shown that the profit from growing vegetables per hectare can be 3-14 times higher than from growing rice.

To strengthen vegetable supply chains, international researchers have suggested that manufacturers use nets to protect their crops from pests.

The idea came from researchers at the Gardening Innovation Lab and French scientists at CIRAD, based in Kenya, where manufacturers use mosquito nets to cover vegetables. In Cambodia, the concept has changed to “clean homes,” so farmers can come to take care of their crops.

These networked homes reduce the need for costly pesticides and protect crops from heavy rains, allowing growers to grow vegetables year-round, even during the rainy season.