| By Kong Phano, ADRA Cambodia
From July 20 to 23, 2026, the SEEDS Project, in collaboration with Commune Agriculture Officers (CAOs), delivered a series of agricultural technical training sessions for 82 vulnerable households selected from five target schools. The training aimed to strengthen household food security, improve agricultural productivity, and increase family income through sustainable farming and market-oriented agriculture.
Training Content
The training package covered six key technical modules:
1. Crop Production
Participants learned sustainable crop production practices, including land preparation, soil health management, seed selection, planting techniques, irrigation, crop rotation, and integrated pest and disease management. Practical demonstrations allowed households to apply environmentally friendly farming approaches suited to their local conditions.
2. Post-Harvest Handling
Households were trained in appropriate harvesting and post-harvest handling methods to minimize crop losses and maintain product quality, covering cleaning, grading, sorting, packaging, storage, and transportation, as well as the role of quality standards in improving market value and reducing food waste.
3. Vermicompost Production
Participants received hands-on training in establishing and managing vermicomposting systems, covering worm selection, feedstock preparation, moisture and temperature management, compost harvesting, and application. This practice helps households improve soil fertility, reduce reliance on chemical fertilizers, recycle organic waste, and generate additional income.
4. Biochar Production and Application
Households learned to produce biochar from locally available biomass through appropriate pyrolysis techniques and apply it to agricultural land, improving soil structure, water retention, and nutrient availability while reducing greenhouse gas emissions and enhancing crop productivity.
5. Natural Pesticide Production
To promote safer, more sustainable farming, participants were trained to prepare natural pesticides from locally available botanical materials, covering pest identification, preparation, application, and integration into sustainable pest management, helping reduce costs and reliance on synthetic chemicals.
6. Market Linkage and Agribusiness Development
The final module strengthened participants’ business and marketing skills, including identifying buyers, understanding market demand, improving product quality and packaging, calculating costs, setting competitive prices, negotiating with traders, and exploring small-scale agribusiness opportunities.
Results
Post-training assessments showed significant improvement in participants’ technical knowledge and practical skills across all modules, with an average knowledge gain of approximately 75%, particularly in crop production, soil fertility management, crop rotation, and environmentally friendly pest management.
The practical, hands-on approach translated into strong adoption:
- Over 90% of participating households successfully established vermicompost units using locally available materials and organic waste.
- Participants began producing and applying biochar on their farms, experimenting with different biomass feedstocks to improve soil fertility and crop performance.
- Households gained confidence in preparing and applying natural pesticides, reducing reliance on synthetic agrochemicals and supporting safer food production.
- Several households established new connections with local buyers, beginning to market fresh vegetables and value-added products such as vermicompost.
Looking Ahead
By combining sustainable agricultural techniques with business and market development skills, the SEEDS Project has strengthened both the technical and entrepreneurial capacities of participating households. This integrated approach continues to contribute to improved household livelihoods, enhanced food security, greater climate resilience, and expanded opportunities for long-term economic development within target communities.
The Strengthening Education and Economic Development through Sustainable Agriculture (SEEDS) project is supported by ADRA Korea.