Siem Reap is one of two provinces identifies by the Cambodian Government and the World Food Program as significantly poor and food-insecure. The percentage of children under five years old in Siem Reap who exhibit stunted growth rates is greater than the Cambodian national average.

Once people have access to a well they often use the water to irrigate a garden. Produce from a successful garden can supplement their diet and offer an avenue for economic growth.

In April 2008, Trailblazer Foundation contributed 50% of the funding required to purchase land and establish a community garden next to the Sras Primary School. The village selected 24 families experienced in gardening as the pilot group to begin this project. A variety of vegetable seeds were distributed along with planting instructions translated into Khmer.

During the spring of 2009 Trailblazers worked with staff and volunteers to launch its own Agricultural Program on the Trailblazer Cambodia Organization (TCO) compound in Siem Reap. Our on-site nursery will be used as a training resource and local seedling supply source. Staff attended an International Development Enterprises [IDE] training program to learn about a low tech drip irrigation system, an example of appropriate technology for the subsistence farmer, which increases crop yields while conserving water usage. Drip irrigation kits cost $44 USD for a system that covers 300 square meters, and $54 USD for a system that covers 500 square meters.

Our Agriculture Program is being implemented as one aspect of our mission to empower rural villagers to create self-sustaining programs. The primary goal is to foster healthy families, sufficient year-round food supplies and sustainable incomes at both the family and village levels. We also want to increase the sustainable economic opportunities for isolated communities through the marketing and sale of excess produce to enhance their capacity to achieve self-sufficiency and improve their overall quality of life. The 2006 Cambodian Agriculture Development Report indicates that, due to lack of availability, the Cambodian hotel industry selects imported fruits and vegetables over locally grown produce 87% of the time.

By networking with local hotels in other program areas, Trailblazer will be able to tap into this market when the need for marketing rural grown produce arises. In the meantime, we will work with village councils to establish farmer co-op networks as well as provide training, resources, and business development support for the marketing and sale of their excess produce.