Prepared by Sok Chanraksmey – DPA

ALiSEA organized an “Agroecology Field Day for local journalists” from December 20th to 22nd, 2024. This event aimed to raise awareness among journalists about the principles and practices of agroecology, showcase successful initiatives in Preah Vihear and Kampong Cham provinces, and strengthen networks among journalists, farmers, experts, civil society members, and local authorities.There were 16 journalists from 15 media companies who participated in the field day, along with 2 farmers, 3 local authorities, 4 researchers, 9 civil society staff, 1 staff member from the Preah Vihear Union of Agricultural Cooperatives, and 2 government staff from the General Directorate of Agriculture.

The field day was structured over two days. On the first day, there were 36 participants. In the morning, the journalists met with Mr. Poeng Trida, Director of the Department of Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries of Preah Vihear Province, to learn about the progress in implementing and promoting agroecology, as well as the province’s policy as an organic agricultural leader.

Following this, the journalists met with the ASSET project team to learn about agroecology techniques and practices in cassava fields, the use of weaver ants to control pests in cashew farms, and cover crop cultivation in rice fields in Rovieng district, Preah Vihear Province.

On the second day, there were 24 participants. The tour visited the Research Center for the Development of Conservation Agriculture in Cambodia (CARDEC) in Bos Knor commune, Chamkar Lue district, Kampong Cham Province. In the morning, researchers presented their practices and experiments in Bos Knor, demonstrated basic agroecology techniques through conservation agriculture practices, and guided a visit to experimental farms, corn cultivation systems, soybean cultivation systems, and cover crop seed production.

As the result of evaluation, journalists indicated gaining insights on maintaining soil health, planting cover crops, making informed soil quality choices, selecting crops, increasing yields, and management methods for promoting soil health.  They also noted how agroecology benefits people, animals, the environment, and family livelihoods, highlighting the importance of cover crop planting in cashew and rice fields and utilizing weaver ants in cashew farms.

The selected videos from the field visit in local language (Khmer), you can enjoy watching:

1. Weaver Ant as bio-pesticide (អង្ក្រងត្រូវបានកសិករប្រើប្រាស់ជំនួសជី ឬថ្នាំគីមី ដើម្បីបង្កើនទិន្នផល): https://www.facebook.com/ceotvlive/videos/2613287545726745
2. Conservation Agriculture in Bos Knor Researching Center (កសិកម្មអភិរក្សបុសខ្នរ ជាស្ថានីយស្រាវជ្រាវ ពិសោធន៍ លើការរក្សា ស្ដារគុណភាពដី រួមផ្សំបណ្ដុះ ដំណាំគម្របពូជគម្របដី): https://www.facebook.com/share/v/2EV2yy2KjZsVjXq7/