Field Visit with Ms. Noriko Tsujimoto of Asian Community Trust (ACT)
On December 3rd and 4th, 2012, Mr. Sam Vitou, Program Director and Mr. Bao Vuthy, Program Coordinator, alongside the relative project team members, accompanied Ms. Noriko Tsujimoto, Asian Community Trust representative, to conduct field visits to Kampong Chhnang province under the framework of the project “Improving the Livelihoods of Rice Farmers in Kampong Tralach and Samaky Meanchey district, Kampong Chnang Province (ILFARM-KTL&SMC).” Overall, four target villages were consulted about saving and credit activities, technical innovations (rice-frog raising, SRL/SRI, home gardening, integrated farming), rice mill cooperatives and the structure of farmer organizations. During these visits, Ms. Noriko interviewed cooperating farmers to understand more about their progress and changes in their communities’ development since joining the project. At the same time, we observed that a number of farmers had a good understanding of the ways they can improve their agricultural production and increase their income through both on-farm and off-farm activities.