Rural Assistance Program Prey Veng (RAP), Cambodia

During Mark's visit to Cambodia and Prey Veng in early September, he met together with our long time local friends and "development partner" to  continue ongoing discussions on how to provide economic opportunities to our farmers in this remote area of Cambodia.

Once such possible  collarboration involved a small "moringa" processing and distribution company in Phnom Penh.  The general  idea was that the moringa company could  make a contract with our farmers to purchase a certain quantity of moringa leaves each month and, with that guaranteed market for their leaves and their ability to access water  with the wells which we provide and  that we could , hopefully,  continue to provide in the future, the farmers can plant many moringa seedlings around their homesteads. One  additional advantage of adding  moringa as an additional crop to the traditional  annual  rainy season rice crop that is the mainstay of farming in Prey Veng,   is that (organically grown)  moringa leaves are in such demand that the farmers could get  a real boost to their cash incomes while further diversifying away from dependence on a single crop of  rice.

Now,  as we fast approach the end of  2016, we are about to launch this  exciting new initiative together with our  local partner, Mohaleap Development Association. In keeping with our longstanding goal of promoting chemical free farming and improving the incomes of farmers in our target area, we  will recruit some of our farmers to plant moringa around their homesteads and in their vegetable gardens.    

This has the potential to be a real " game changer" for our farmers by boosting their incomes.

What is  moringa? Moringa is a very popular dietary supplement in many countries and regions of the world. Moringa contains proteins, vitamins, and minerals. As an antioxidant,  it is thought to potentially  help protect cells from damage.

We have now  made an agreement to sell the moringa harvest of our farmers to a local processor of moringa products with the understanding that all of our moringa leaves will be organically grown. 

The initial group will include about fifty farmers.  On average, each farmer is expected to plant about five hundred moringa seedlings around his/her homestead and vegetable garden. After about six months, the plants should reach a height of about 0.5 to 0.7 meters and the first leaves can be harvested. The initial harvest is expected to yield about 0.3 to 0.5 kilograms per plant and the farmers will receive about U.S. $0.25 per kilo of leaves. From the initial planting of about 500 seedlings, we expect each farmer will harvest 150kg to 250kg in the first year but, in subsequent years, as the plants reach maturity, those same 500 plants should yield up to 3,000 kg of moringa leaves providing our farmers with cash income of approximately $750 per year.

For most of our farmers, an additional income of $750 per year will be a considerable windfall and, with that money, they can make important improvements to their farms and to the welfare of their families.

The moringa plants can be expected to provide a good yield for about five years so we are excited at the prospect that this new program will provide our farmers with a guaranteed price for their moringa leaves resulting in a significant boost to their incomes.

Keeping young seedlings of any kind alive and flourishing throughout the year will require a well to insure a stable supply of water.  Kasumisou Foundation is hoping to sponsor the drilling of new wells for farmers who do not yet have a well,   at an approximate cost of $ 270 per well.  Key to the success of  each farmer for this new initiative,  will be his ability to access a reliable  supply of water .

Each year since 2001 we have driiled water wells, totaling more than 450  wells to date which provide a reliable supply of water for thousands of people. These well often serve not only the farmer but also  their neighbors. Finding sponsors for the  new water wells will be a critical part of the long term success of this program and we are hopeful that our donors can see how a modest investment in a well can help a farmer work toward a significantly better life for his family.

GlobalGiving Match Day on November 29

The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation is providing  $500,000 in matching funds on Tuesday, November 29. Your donation to Kasumisou Foundation's Rural Assistance Program of any amount up to $1000 is elibigle to receive a 50% matching donation from the Gates Foundation.  Please join us and support our efforts  by  helping to fund  new wells and build  a new future  for our farmers.  

 We are deeply grateful to you,  our donors for your  continued support.

Barbara & Mark Rosasco