Siem Reap, KH – Rent-to-Own community members grow their food security during these economically challenging times – 30 Apr 2022

Many people are growing vegetables in their gardens because food prices are rising during these challenging times of COVID pandemic and the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Prices for fuel, oil and food like rice and vegetables have increased making the life of Cambodian people harder.

Pol Lem’s mother and father, who live with Pol in his Rent-to-Own house, are maintaining a good quality garden, as well as raising chickens and ducks. The Lem family are a good example of ensuring food security by establishing their own supply of fresh and chemical-free ingredients just a few steps from their front door. They can do this because Peaksneng garden shop has trained them about organic vegetable gardening, and is renting the family a house and land for their vegetable garden. They will have the security of home and land ownership when they have paid enough rent to pay off both.

Pol Lem’s mother and father say that their greatest achievement is to see their grandchildren healthy and happy because they have enough food to eat. They also find gardening with their grandchildren a fun bonding experience! Lem and his wife have been recommending that Lem’s parents grow the following vegetables in their garden, because they are low maintenance, nutritious, fast growing and drought resistant plants that need less fuel to pump irrigation water during the dry season.

Pachoy is one of the easiest vegetables to grow in Cambodia, which only needs 30 days before it can be harvested.

Moringa is one of most nutritious plants in the world, because its leaves are packed with vitamins and minerals. When growing it you need to place it in direct sunlight, and avoid watering it every day as it prevents the moringa from growing. After a few months, it will produce great nutritious leaves.

Okra is another easy to grow vegetable in Cambodia because direct planted seeds will germinate on their own. When the okra grows, it needs good sunlight so that after 3 or 4 months the okra pods can be harvested.

Now the family have a Rent-to-Own (RTO) home and Food Always In The Home (FAITH) garden, they have many of the things they need. However, Pol Lem’s mother and father dream to see their grandchildren finish school, because none of their own children went onto higher education.

PMI family