Cambodia to Include Agriculture Program in Public Schools

By Soy Sophea

Speaking at the opening of a two-day national workshop, the Cambodian Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Minister Chan Sarun said that he wants to see an agriculture program introduced to public schools.

The workshop was conducted by the Cambodian Center for Study and Development in Agriculture (CEDAC). His comments were made to an audience of 200 young community leaders and fledgling agro-entrepreneurs.

The introduction will have the effect of drawing the attention of Cambodian students to farming. This sector of the economy currently employs 80 percent of the population and an injection of fresh talent, equipped with knowledge of the latest developments in the field will contribute to its vigor.

The Minister said that currently, Cambodian people are much more interested in the tourism sector, manufacturing and construction. He went on to say that these four areas – including agriculture - constitute the pillars of Cambodia’s economy.

The Agriculture Minister noted that the current global financial crisis appears to have sapped some of the energy from the tourism, manufacturing and construction sectors; but he applauded the agricultural sector which remained essentially vibrant and profitable, despite the worsening economic climate.

The Minister said that although the activity of three out of the four core sectors has declined, agriculture has not so far been swept away in the crisis and it needs qualified technicians today as much as it ever did to extend the best of the latest developments to the grass roots.
He did note however that there were signs of a demographic shift, with an increasing number of provincial agriculturalists perceiving the possibility of a better life in the cities.

“Students from the provinces attending universities are clearly unable to help their families back home on the farm,” he said. Furthermore, when they graduate, they are naturally more ambitious. Working as a lower ranking official will not satisfy them and they want to jump into employment in middle farm management positions. They would also like the financial security that such positions bring. Indeed, speaking metaphorically, why should our graduates wear slippers when they should be wearing shoes.”

The Minister said that he was very proud to be a part of CEDAC’s induction sessions for the Short Agricultural Training Courses for Rural Youth, reiterating his calls for their timely introduction to public schools by the Ministry of Education.

“Although there is as yet no specific agricultural program at public schools we should be able to teach our provincial pupils something about basic agricultural practices to help them be of even more use to their parents,” the Minister said. “For instance, if teachers can instruct students in the manufacture of natural fertilizers during school break times, the school gardens will flourish and the pupils will have some useful experience and skill to share with their community. But this type of common sense activity and willingness to share experience has disappeared in recent years.”

Yang Saing Koma, President of CEDAC, said that the main objective of the workshop was to strengthen the Young Community Leaders and Young Agro-Entrepreneurs, providing them with leadership skills tutorials and reviewing the program’s achievements over the past year.

Koma said the training courses for young leaders were introduced in 2006, to increase their management capacity and advertise opportunities for young community leaders. He added that the course also paved the way for the young students to take part in rural agricultural development and to become experts in their particular sectors.

CEDAC President Koma continued that policy direction in 2008 had been guided the need to provide the youth with a clear-eyed vision of the scope and opportunities offered by agriculture and the contributions it makes to rural development. He promised more of the same rational approach for 2009.

“Leadership in the rural arena has two objectives in mind; the first is excellence in agriculture, which goes hand-in-hand with the second of our objectives - community development,” he said.
Koma said that his Center plans within the next twelve months to involve as many as 1000 young Cambodians involved in exploring the many advantages of knowledge of agricultural practices. He added that in 2008 his center has trained 300 young rural workers who graduated from high schools in 17 different provinces in Cambodia. He said that this first batch of graduates from the training scheme would form a vanguard in efforts to ensure rural development.

Phim Sarim, a youth community leader from Takeo province, said that the course has provided him with practical lessons, directly applicable to the task of community development. On a personal level he spoke of the sense of self assurance he has discovered and hiss willingness to confront a challenging professional environment. He said that he would be carrying these lessons back to the provinces and sharing his findings with members of his community.

“Knowledge is the staple of life and it is also its seasoning,” he said. “We cannot hope to find prosperity without basing it on a body of practical know-how.”

Cambodia has produced 2.8 million tons of rice for export during this year’s harvest, an increase of approximately 0.8 million tons on the previous year, according to Minister Chan Sarun.