Improve family’s income through pepper planting

Mr. Kren Trorn, aged 46, is a farmer who lives in Pu Chhorb village, Dak Dam commune, O’Reang district, Mondulkiri province and has a son and a daughter. He owns a plot of village land measuring 1.5 hectaresand his farmland measures two hectares (formerly rice land) which allows him to grow various crops and raise livestock such as pigs, cows and chickens for his family’s livelihood.

The primary crop is cassava and the second source of his income is pepper. He also grows avocado and passion fruit and he raises animals, including cows, chickens and pigs.

In 2004, Mr. Trorn planted 10 pepper bushes and was able to earn approximately 100,000 Reils per year during the fourth and fifth years after planting.

In July 2012, Mr. Trorn attended a training on pepper planting techniques that was organised by the food security project of DPA-Mondulkiri, and  funded by the European Commission (EC). Mr. Trorn said “I am well trained in pepper planting techniques, included selecting the best seeds, how to plant, how to take care of them, how to make organic fertilizer, compost fertilizer and natural insecticides as well as how to harvest and store the pepper fruits.

“In the past, I planted other crops, using traditional techniques since I didn’t know about other forms of protection or technique,” he said. “As a result, my pepper planting was not good and after the eighth year, some of the plants started to dry up and others fell from their supporting poles. From the trial results and training, I gained numerous skills in both theory and practice.”

“I hope my pepper plants will grow well and produce a higher yield than before. In the near future, I plan to grow up to 100 pepper plants and this will help me earn more money to support my family’s living. I would like to thank DPA for providing me a chance to attend this training. Due to their support, I now have another source of income that will reduce poverty and contribute to a better livelihood.”