Cambodian farmers adopt ingenious ways to stem deforestation

Preah Vihear/Cambodia – The Our Future Organization (OF) has launched a program to stem deforestation in the Cambodian province of Preah Vihear, through which it distributed more than 60,000 Cashew seedlings to farmers.

The program seeks to show farmers and villagers a different way and help them protect their environment and the overall ecosystem.

Ben Davis, a forest defender, said that the program also supports the global efforts in combating climate change, as it would stem the cutting down of trees.

He said the issue of deforestation could be addressed by raising the awareness of people, putting in place deterring laws, and raising the farmers’ income.

“We currently have three programs for reducing deforestation in this area. We have been supporting cashew seedlings to the people. Both last year and this year, we donated 60,000 cashew seedlings to the community, with four villages for last year and seven for this year,” Davis said.

The OF especially provided support with this kind of seedlings rather than any type else since they have a better market in the province and people are used to growing them, according to the OF director, Sharyn Davis.

Davis also expressed her worries that despite the efforts to stop deforestation, some would still resort to cutting trees, unhinged by laws.

Also, farmers said the program greatly reduced deforestation as they became busy in plantation and cultivation instead of logging.

Yat Van, the owner of the cashew nut farm, said that after the OF cashew nut seeding donations, she was relieved to save money for other things. “I grow it naturally because I have no money to buy fertilizer for maintenance,” Van said.

The program helped to reduce poverty in this area as it has created jobs for farmers, according to local farmers.