Healthier Pigs, Stronger Profits: A Farmer’s Journey from Tradition to a Village Animal Health Worker

In Prey Chrok village of Prey Veng Province, pig farming has long been part of daily life. For Mr. Vong Samoun, it’s more than just a job — it’s a responsibility to his family, his animals, and his community. Together with his better half, he takes care of their farm, where each day begins with feeding, cleaning, and making sure the pigs stay healthy and cool. As a small-scale farmer and local veterinary clinician, he has seen firsthand how knowledge and simple changes can lead to healthier livestock, fewer losses, and better income. With support from the ACT project, Mr. Samoun has turned experience into expertise — managing animal health more confidently and reducing the risks of antibiotic misuse in his community.

Mr. Samoun is no ordinary farmer. With over a decade of experience raising pigs, he once depended entirely on others when his animals got sick. But today, trained as a community veterinary clinician, he manages most animal health issues himself — using proper treatments, preventive care, and biosecurity.

“Before I received training, I had to rely on others when my pigs got sick. Now, I can manage their health myself — and my income is much better as a result.”

The turning point came through training delivered under the ACT (Action to support implementation of Codex AMR texts) project, which works with farmers, veterinarians, and institutions across Cambodia to reduce antimicrobial resistance (AMR). The ACT project is an initiative led by the General Directorate of Animal Health and Production (GDAHP) of the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF), and funded by the Republic of Korea, with technical support from FAO. It supports Cambodia in applying Codex guidelines, raising awareness, and promoting responsible use of antimicrobials in food production.

 

With support from the project, Samoun learned to apply vaccines, disinfect pens weekly, limit farm access to reduce contamination, and — most importantly — to avoid unnecessary use of antibiotics.

 

“We used to think antibiotics were the answer to everything. But overuse made our pigs sicker. Now I use them only when needed — with proper dosage — and I see fewer problems ”  stated  Samoun. He further added “My pigs are healthy after applying proper biosecurity and i spent less on medicines ”  

His pigs are now healthier and more resilient, especially during periods of extreme weather when illness was once common. Instead of commercial feed, he uses rice by-products from local alcohol production, reducing costs while supporting the pigs’ digestion. During hot days, he keeps them cool by spraying water, and treats cases of diarrhea or fever based on his training — minimizing delays and costs.

Each year, he sells two to three batches of pigs. When the pigs reach selling weight, local traders come directly to his farm, knowing they’ll find strong, healthy animals. With better outcomes and fewer treatment failures, his profits have improved — but so has his confidence.

Mr. Samoun’s story is one of many showing how Cambodia is tackling AMR from the ground up — equipping farmers with knowledge, strengthening veterinary practices, and building awareness of Codex AMR guidelines. With simple but consistent changes, he is not only improving animal welfare and food safety — he’s showing that rural resilience begins with informed communities.