Inner Strength:Threat-Free Future for Cambodia

To all of you who have always supported us, we are pleased to share the latest report on the project ”Inner Strength: Threat-Free Future for Cambodia”!

Background: During the 30-year civil war, between 4 and 6 million landmines were buried in Cambodia. Battambang Province suffers the most severe landmine contamination, and many people continue to live in vulnerable environments there. We have been supporting vulnerable people in this area to encourage income diversification through chemical-free vegetable gardening and livestock breeding, based on the principles of agroecology.

Since January 2023, we have been implementing a project to strengthen the management of an agricultural cooperative in Samlot District, Battambang Province, Cambodia.

Previously, this agricultural cooperative was managed solely by its executive members. To strengthen the cooperative's operational capacity, this project facilitated the hiring of new staff, with Terra Renaissance providing comprehensive training and development. By the project's end, the goal is to increase the cooperative's revenue to a level that can sustain operational costs, including the salaries of these new employees.

This month, the cooperative achieved a major milestone by selling its first batch of pigs raised in partnership with vulnerable households in the community. These are no ordinary pigs; they are a rare breed known locally as "Mouse Deer Pigs" in Khmer, prized for their unique qualities and considered a delicacy. The cooperative purchased these pigs from the families we support and roasted them whole for sale, generating valuable income for both the cooperative and the participating households.

The sales were going well. However, when we calculated the profit for one day, it was less than $1.

Indirect costs other than material costs are not included in necessary expenses. As it is, it will not contribute to the profits of our association.

In analyzing the low profit, discussions with the cooperative members highlighted two primary challenges.

1. Weight Loss During Roasting: The pigs, being of a high-fat breed, experienced significant weight loss during the roasting process, resulting in a lower-than-expected yield.
2. Unforeseen Labor Costs: The Cooperative Chief had authorized additional wages for the staff involved in slaughtering and preparing the pigs, a substantial expense that significantly impacted the overall cost.

To address these challenges and improve profitability, we organized a meeting with the cooperative staff and the Cooperative Chief to discuss the pig sales process and identify solutions. 

To address the issue of weight loss, the cooperative decided to mitigate the risk of sales fluctuations due to variations in individual pigs by selling the pig in parts rather than by weight.

The second challenge,  the additional wages paid to the staff who butchered and cooked the pigs, has been a recurring topic of discussion. While fair compensation is crucial, the cooperative needs to establish clear guidelines for when additional wages are warranted.

Furthermore, it's essential for the cooperative staff to understand the importance of generating revenue and their role in achieving this goal. The cooperative's leaders have been volunteers since its founding, but new staff were hired to strengthen operations. To pay these staff and sustain the livestock support program, contributions to the cooperative's revenue-generating activities are essential.

Following discussions, it was decided that no additional wages would be paid for butchering and cooking the pigs this time. However, recognizing the demanding nature of the work, a small allowance was provided to cover the cost of cold drinking water.

It was truly encouraging to see the Cooperative Chief and the staff members actively engaged in discussions, generating ideas, and demonstrating a genuine commitment to improving the pig sales. We will continue to foster the cooperative's ownership and autonomy, working together to ensure they achieve financial self-sufficiency after the project concludes.

We kindly ask for your continued support.

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Since January 2023, we have been implementing a project to strengthen the management of an agricultural cooperative in Samlot District, Battambang Province, Cambodia.
This project, facilitated by the cooperative, provides support to vulnerable households in landmine-affected areas, including landmine victims and the impoverished. Support is delivered through home gardening and livestock raising initiatives.
To ensure the long-term sustainability of the project, we are providing training to cooperative staff on program implementation and cooperative management practices, including accounting, sales, and administrative procedures.

The core of the project is a livestock support system where chickens, ducks, pigs, or goats are loaned to eligible households. Once the animals reproduce, recipients return the same number of animals plus an additional "interest" to the cooperative. These animals are then loaned to the next participating household, creating a sustainable cycle of support.

They started breeding in July 2023, and by spring 2024, a significant number of livestock have been returned by the participating households.

Out of the 40 participating households, 9 have successfully completed the return process, and are ready to pass the animals on to the next beneficiaries. We hope that these households will continue to follow the expert advice they received and successfully turn their livestock into a sustainable source of income.

However, during a recent visit to the village, we identified a key challenge in helping participating households turn their livestock into a sustainable source of income.  The households often find themselves in a weak position as producers when selling their animals. 

One pig-raising household shared a concerning story.  Local buyers come to the village to purchase livestock, but these buyers often use tampered scales to make the animals appear lighter or lift the animals slightly during weighing to get a lower weight reading.  

Without knowledge of market prices, negotiating fair prices with buyers can be difficult. The cooperative's director shared a personal experience where a buyer offered him a different price for a pig than the price offered to a participating household, highlighting the potential for exploitation.

To address these challenges and empower the participating households, we are exploring the possibility of the cooperative acting as a collective seller for the livestock.  This would enable fairer negotiations and ensure more stable prices for both the households and the buyers.  It would be a fitting next step, given the cooperative's role in delivering this vital support program.

**Moving forward, our primary goals for the second year of the livestock support program are:**

1. **Continued Support for Breeding and Disease Prevention:**  We will continue to provide assistance to participating households to ensure successful breeding and proper disease management. 

2. **Establishing a Cooperative Sales System:**  We will work closely with the cooperative to develop a system for collective sales of livestock, including exploring options for slaughter, distribution channels, and transportation. 

By addressing these challenges and implementing these strategies, we aim to create a truly sustainable and empowering livestock program for the participating households. 

We kindly ask for your continued support.

Links:

• Learn more about us
• Search for us on Facebook
• Terra Renaissance's instagram