|
Innovative
rural farm projects:
Chickens, an
ox, and some dogs along with a small garden or a place to
grow rice is a common sight at most rural homes in
Cambodia. However, RDI has started some unusual projects
to boost nutrition and economy in a rural village in Kean
Svay. |
|
Turkeys: Chickens are
common use for eggs and for the occasional chicken meal.
But with a large population of ex-patriots from the USA
and all kinds of foreign long term visitors in Phnom Penh
who celebrate traditional western holidays, raising
turkeys seemed like an obvious choice. RDI is constantly
incubating turkey eggs, and teaching villagers how to
raise them. When a turkey is full grown and Thanksgiving
or Christmas rolls around, each one can sell for $30 or
more in the city market. |
RDI is pretty proud of the
regal looking turkeys that have been raised on our farm.
It's not uncommon to hear the "gobblers" at most any hour
of the day. |
| Guinea
Fowl: Unlike other birds, they will not destroy a garden, and are
immune to most tropical climate diseases. A wiser investment than
chickens they are great for food, and keep pests away from the other projects. |
|
Courtnix
Quail: A great source for egg
consumption. 10 Guinea fowl can produce 3,000 eggs in one year. While
it takes about 3 eggs (in size) to be the equivalent of a chicken egg, a
Khmer chicken may lay only 30 eggs a year. |
|
Goats, and
Rabbits: Each are being raised for experimentation
until RDI can prove the cost effectiveness and
practicality for villagers to raise them. |
|
Emma is a good pig. Be sure to ask about her when you
visit the RDI farms. |
Odor-less pigs: Yes. It
is possible to raise pigs that don't stink. RDI is
exploring some Korean farming techniques using locally
available materials to raise pigs in "muck" that has a
neutral smell and can easily be used as very high quality
fertilizer. |
|
Fish:
Four types of fish are being raised in ponds here at RDI.
With multi layered ponds, RDI can raise each for a different
purpose simultaneously, in one pond. 4,000 fish reside in
each pond. The top layer of fish, Tilapia are used for
regular consumption. The second two layers of other fish
are used to regulate the ecosystem of the pond. The bottom
layer, reside the silver carp, an exportable and high value
fish. |
|
|
Statistics |
- Average yearly income for rural
Cambodians: $135.
- Rice farming is the most common rural
occupation.
- Most Cambodian farmers suffer from
malnutrition.
|
|
Gardening
Dozens of gardening projects are
currently underway or have already found a permanent place in the
community. Organic
Pesticides: Multiple organic insecticide experiments are underway in
order to examine alternatives to expensive and dangerous chemicals for
rural farmers. All from readily available safe and organic ingredients
found in Cambodia. Cotton: Though not traditionally grown in Cambodia,
RDI has had tremendous results with growing cotton and a unique strand of
natural occurring colored cotton. This has a lot of potential to
stir economic growth in all kinds of ways.
Vegetables: Dozens of different vegetables not native to the
area have had great success. Villagers all around the area are
helping RDI test gourds, legumes, flowers, and grains for human and animal
consumption.
Duckweed: One pond at RDI is used to grow this natural food
for our fish, rabbits and various fowl. It regenerates itself
100% every day, and is fed by the feces of our various farm animals.
It grows locally, and has proven itself a vital part of the RDI "Ecosystem." |
|
