Help Rural Cambodians Escape Hunger and Poverty

In May, Trailblazer was gifted with three Rapitest soil analyzers, that were then supplied to the Farmer Community Group in Preah Ang Trong village, Lvea commune, Pouk district. These analyzers will be used to assist the farmers in measuring the soil's fertility, light, moisture, and pH level, as well as, quickly and accurately determining the soil's acidity and alkaline level. The results display in an easy to read digital readout.

Trailblazer's Agriculture Supervisor, Monypheap, recently visited and monitored this farmer group on how they were doing. She met specifically with Mrs. Louy to explain how to use the soil tester and to take measurements of the soil in her farm land in order to know the status of the land quality. The results revealed that Mrs. Louy's land's fertility level was too low, the pH level was neutral - neither acid nor alkaline, and the moisture level was too high, which is not good for her crops.

In Cambodia, the soils are comprised heavily of sand and clay, which makes the agriclutural techniques and practices that Trailblazer teaches so important. Composting, soil management, and integrated farming systems aid in increasing the quality of the land to make it more optimal for farming and successful harvests.

Monypheap and Mrs. Louy also talked about the many uses and the principle of using organic fertilizer and lime to improve the quality of her farm land for greater success, and about the type of crops that should be planted next season. Farmers should not plant the same crop every time because it leads to the crops getting diseases and damage by insects. Crop rotation is important to maintaining quality soil for growing healthier produce.

The various measurements captured with the soil analyzers are very important elements to the farmers' success. The results are used to analize their farm land's quality, and thereby, assists the farmer in effectively utilizing their time, calculating yields, and managing the money they invest in their farm practices.

Results provided by these soil analyzers are the basis for farmers making good decisions about which farming techniques they need to implement from season to season and crop to crop.

We are so thankful to the donor who graciously provided these Rapitest soil analyzers to help make our farmers more successful with growing their crops and reaping larger, healthier harvests of their crops, whereby earning larger incomes.

We wish to thank all our donors who support our Food Security program which leads to rural families escaping hunger and poverty.