ASIA/CAMBODIA - Caritas Rice Bank alleviates farmers’ poverty

Phnom Penh (Fides Service) - A “Rice Bank” to help poor farmers reap a better harvest and so improve their living standard: this is the goal of programmes launched by Caritas Cambodia in the province of Kandal.
The “Rice Bank” is part of a development plan for the local community sponsored by Caritas. To join the virtuous circle of the “rice bank” each farmer contributes a small ‘capital’ of 20 kg of rice: the participants may then draw seed from the Bank (an association of farmers) to plant in the fields as they need it and ‘pay’ it back at harvest time.
This methods has helped many farmers produce more rice and avoid famine. The ‘rice bank’ mechanism fosters a sense solidarity among the farmers because in they help each other at times of difficulty.
The local community is very grateful to Caritas Cambodia for its efforts in this sector in full harmony with government development polices. Caritas Cambodia established in 1992 and registered as an NGO runs development programmes for the local community. It has its head offices in Phnom Penh and runs programmes in the provinces of Kandal, Takeo, Kampong Cham, Kampong Thom, Siem Reap and Battambang.
Caritas Cambodia works with various other organisations including Caritas Australia which at the moment is sponsoring a programme to guarantee food and water for farmers in villages in the area of Kampong Cham. Caritas Australia helps Cambodian farmers produce more by teaching new methods and introducing new crops. In three years more than 63 families in this area managed to escape from the spiral of hunger and now live with dignity thanks to harvests which produce enough to eat and some left over to sell at the local market. Cultivating rice and maize of various qualities as well as grain, Soya, sweet potatoes and fruit trees farming families have a more balanced diet rich in various nutritional elements. (PA) (Agenzia Fides 20/12/2005 Righe: 27 Parole: 276)