By Sheena Thiruselvan | Development Associate
In the rural Cambodian village of Sovanna Baitong, where Wildlife Alliance’s Community Agriculture Development Project (CADP) is located, 187 families have been provided the tools to increase their household income in ways that are sustainable for both their families and the environment. Farmers use climate-smart techniques to grow a variety of crops yearlong, however income diversification is encouraged to protect farmers from bad harvest due to drought or heavy monsoonal rains. This supplemental income also provides a more sustainable livelihood that will prevent desperate farmers from returning to poaching and forest destruction.
Wildlife Alliance provides families interested in income-generating projects with resources and technical assistance. Recently, a Wildlife Alliance field technician provided training on the rearing of chickens. Twenty-two farmers participated in this training, where they received lessons on making and using vaccinations, building a suitable coop, and taking proper care of the chickens. Other enterprises supplementing their agricultural income include selling food and merchandise, sewing, repairing vehicles, and renting equipment. Women in the community have been leading the charge in entrepreneurial endeavors. The Women’s Committee provides training in various activities such as traditional Khmer food preparation and handicraft skills to promote such micro-businesses.
To pay for these projects, community members are able to borrow from the community’s micro-credit fund. This year, 26 families took out loans and repayment is already at 98%. In the community, 32 families have been earning over an average of $120 a month from these initiatives, with 10 families earning above $250 a month.
You can help Wildlife Alliance continue to alleviate poverty in the Southern Cardamoms with alternative sustainable livelihoods by making a year-end gift today!
By Sheena Thiruselvan | Development Associate
By Sheena Thiruselvan | Development Associate
Project reports on GlobalGiving are posted directly to globalgiving.org by Project Leaders as they are completed, generally every 3-4 months. To protect the integrity of these documents, GlobalGiving does not alter them; therefore you may find some language or formatting issues.
If you donate to this project or have donated to this project, you can receive an email when this project posts a report. You can also subscribe for reports without donating.