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Rice farmers work to install a new water pump bought with TeleFood funds in Cambodia
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Fellow rice farmers come from miles around to see Tai Ny's new diesel water pump. It is not surprising, given that irrigation systems in this part of Cambodia are severely run down after years of civil war, inefficient operation and maintenance practices, poor design and use of low-quality construction materials. Thanks to FAO's TeleFood Fund, Tai Ny's family is one of 350 target farmer households who will benefit from the joint TeleFood and Special Programme for Food Security project.
Cambodia's main rice-growing area is situated in the lowlands of the Mekong Delta with mainly rainfed rice-ecosystems. The wet season rice crop can easily be jeopardized by erratic rainfall during the dry spells of July and August, when rice is at tillering stage and crop water requirements are high. Supplementary irrigation is necessary to overcome the dry spells, to ensure a timely seedbed preparation and to avoid scalding of the rice at the maturing stage.
If rice production is reduced, farm families can face severe problems for two to three months of the year. This is where Tai Ny's pump comes in. Purchased with the money generously donated to TeleFood by the public, the pumps are shared by up to five farm families.
"Before, I only harvested one rice crop, just enough for a family. Now, I can count on two or three crops, letting me sell some rice," said Tai Ny.
The farmers are pitching in to help rebuild irrigation infrastructure, providing labour during the construction works and assistance in the well drilling.
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