Rice paper forms identity of villagers in Battambang, deters residents from migrating

Battambang, Cambodia – Known for its great quality rice paper for fresh and deep-fried spring rolls, the village of Doun Teav in the Battambang province, Cambodia, is home to many families who have perfected the making of rice paper and have taken it as a family business.

Several villagers interviewed have said that the business of making the spring rolls is an alternative to leaving the hometown and their families, as they noted that even though the business does not generate that much money, it is enough to allow the residents to support their families.

The locals are delighted to show their identity through the food they make and sell to tourists to generate more income.

“Some days I sell at home when tourists are visiting from time to time. I sold 8,000 riels ($ 2) worth of food,” said one villager.

Mr. Roeun Hin, who is the chief of the village, said that he is trying to bring the villagers together to make the selling of rice paper a community-based activity, as he said that he aspires to reflect the identity of the Doun Teav village through rice paper.

Doun Teav Village is Battambang’s only area that produces rice paper dating back for almost 100 years.

“The rice paper made in this village is easy to cook and is highly popular. If we compare it to imported products from Vietnam, the quality of our local products would far surpass its counterpart, and it is much easier to cook,” said villager Tlang Lor.

During the rainy season, people working in this profession cannot produce rice paper.

They called on NGOs to provide them a market in which they can sell and expand their business as they lack the presence of a good one in their village.

Giving a historical overview of the profession, Hin said that “Before the Pol Pot regime, there was a man who bought rice paper from my village and distributed it to Vietnam, Thailand and so on.”

“Later, during the Pol Pot era, production was temporarily suspended and resumed in 1980, with more than 80 families working in the business to provide for their families.”