Agro-ecology, along with health, is one of the pillars of Louvain Coopération's activities in Cambodia. Funded by the DGD, the programme set up with the Liège-based university NGO Eclosio, aims to strengthen food and economic security and access to trade and entrepreneurship. All this while promoting sustainable and social agriculture.
To achieve this, 22 self-help groups involving around 440 farmers have been formed to date. Each group is made up of 15 to 20 members, united around a common interest. Together, and also between groups, they help each other and exchange knowledge, experience and practices relating to sustainable agriculture. In exchange, they are provided with training, coaching, financial support for the purchase of equipment and guaranteed sufficient access to water to irrigate their fields. Today, 255 farmers have been trained in sustainable farming techniques and use them on at least 85% of their production. A major challenge in a country hard hit by climate change.
In the future, the social aspect will have to be even more integrated by adding a nutritional and gendered aspect.