Cambodian Silk

For centuries people in Cambodia have been creating and using exquisite silk. Incredibly beautiful, Cambodian silk is known for its quality, vibrancy and delicate feel – and the scarves, handbags, cushion covers, ties and table runners that are proudly displayed in the markets are just a small sample of what is available.

Despite a tumultuous history in Cambodia where the art of silk making almost died, we are now starting to see a revival of the traditional art and evidence of burgeoning industry - an industry which could bring big gains to people of Cambodia.

There are over 25,000 people involved in the silk sector, including weavers, producers, retailers and others. And that’s why silk has been identified as a key sector in Cambodia to generate income for poor and rural producers and contribute to poverty reduction.

Artisan’s Angkor, the silk farm and store I visited in Siem Reap, is a real success story for the industry. If others within the sector can emulate this sort of success, the future will certainly be looking brighter.

NZAID, UNDP and Swiss Secretariat of Economic Affairs, SECO have joined forces with the International Trade Centre to support the Cambodian Sector Wide Silk Project. Bringing together all elements of silk making in a bottom-up approach that includes farmers, weavers, designers, traders and the Cambodian government, this project will encourage the industry to work together improve performance and achieve better, more profitable outcomes for all.

The first step of the project has been setting up a strong foundation with the creation of a strategy. The focus of the strategy is three-fold and covers all aspects of producing silk.

Firstly, the project will increase the production of silk farming and yarn supply, including growing mulberry trees and rearing silk worms to produce the high quality golden silk yarn that is unique to Cambodia.

Secondly, the silk weavers themselves will be supported so they can supply quality silk in a timely manner. This means providing training in new weaving and dyeing techniques, improving working conditions and linking buyers with weavers.

And thirdly, developing markets and unique products will ensure the beautiful silk is sold for a fair price, both nationally and internationally, so everyone that’s involved can receive more profit.

So the strategy is in place. There is much to be done to realise the vision and work is underway. The enthusiasm of those involved in the sector is inspiring and evidence that a traditional art form can hold the key to alleviating poverty.

Responsible Tourism in Phnom Penh

Cambodia’s capital city Phnom Penh is much bigger than the tourist mecca of Siem Reap and offers its own unique charm. Colonial architecture, lively street side cafes, vibrant markets and colourful traffic jams make up this charming riverside city that sits at the meeting point of three rivers - the mighty Mekong, Tonle Sap and Tonle Bassac rivers.

In between the tourist attractions like the Grand Palace, the incredible National Museum and the famous Russian markets, there are a number of things you can do to ensure your tourist dollar is making a difference. Once again I turn to the Stay Another Day guidebook to see what else Phnom Penh offers.

My first stop is Friends International – a bright cheerful non-profit café staffed by ex-street kids who have been trained in hospitality. Sun-dried tomato hummus, mango salad, tuna and avocado salad, chicken in pita bread and other Asian and Western style tapa snacks make up the menu. On the walls, the names of the students cooking in the kitchen and serving customers are proudly displayed. The brightly coloured décor, fantastic service and divine foods makes this an experience to savour.

And while I’m enjoying my lunch, students are learning the tools of the trade and gaining hands-on experience. One day, these same students will be working in other restaurants or even running their own restaurants.

There are 20,000 children living and working on the streets of Phnom Penh. Friends International works with street children and their families to provide a range of support services including the provision of vocational training in hairdressing, welding, electronics, cooking and mechanics among others. They even support home based production so mothers can work at home and earn a fair income.

Next door to the café there is Friends ‘n’ Stuff – a store that sells goods repaired by the mechanics and electronics students along with handcrafts and clothing made by the students. You can even get a manicure.

On the day I visit Friends, they were closing early to celebrate the Khmer New Year with a concert performed by the children. I was invited to see the concert and it was an absolute privilege to see the joyous energy of the children performing and break dancing and the smiling faces of their families in their audience.

And there are other things to discover in the Stay Another Day. Purchase bold, beautiful silk products at NYEMO, an NGO where vulnerable women learn new skills such as sewing, embroidery and silk weaving and then sells their items in the NYEMO boutique and the Russian market. They also have a restaurant set in a lush, leafy garden so you can relax in tranquillity after your shopping. Profits help assist women who have been affected by HIV/AIDS, trafficking or abuse get the support they need to reintegrate into society.

Other options include a visit Sovanna Phum, a theatre group that is reviving, preserving and promoting traditional arts like puppet theatre. A little bit further out of town, on the way to the Killing Fields, is Lotus Blanc, a training restaurant and spa.

Useful links

www.stay-another-day.org

www.friends-international.org

www.sovannaphum.org

www.business.nyemo.com

Growing a better future – Agriculture in Cambodia

Agriculture is the backbone of the Cambodian economy. Most people here are subsistence farmers who grow rice and vegetables to feed their own households and supply the local market. Very little is left over.

The United Nations says that the average income in Cambodia is just $1 US dollar a day and over half the countries GDP comes from aid. Inflation is a major problem. The price of rice, a staple in the Cambodian diet, has almost doubled in recent times yet income remains at the same level.

So how do farmers use their skills to improve the income opportunities for themselves and their families?

Supported by NZAID, Cambodia Agribusiness Development Facility (CADF) is playing a valuable role improving the supply chain for entrepreneurial farmers. This involves providing technical assistance and business advice to strengthen links between farmers and markets and alleviate constraints.

Today we visited two initiatives supported by CADF to see how farmers are embracing new ideas to improve their own livelihoods.

Twenty minutes out of the tourist oasis of Siem Reap, we travel along a bumpy red track, past water buffalo, crops and traditional style small homes to visit an entrepreneurial farmer, Mr Lorn Saruth, who is using plastic to grow crops like cucumber, beans and lettuce all year round – an innovative new way to make his farm more profitable.

After he joined CADF he took part in a trip to Viet Nam to see how plastic could improve his farming techniques and the production of his small farm. This innovative new way of farming has generated a lot of interest from the village and now other farmers are coming to his place to learn about the new techniques so they in turn can emulate his success. Right now it’s the dry season and there are rows of broad beans popping up through the reflective silver plastic.

The plastic is relatively expensive but Mr Saruth believes the savings in production make it worthwhile. The plastic keeps the moisture in the ground and controls the weeds and grass around the crops. Before he started using the plastic, he used to water the crops everyday. Now he only needs to water every other day. And he saves money on fertiliser. With the money he earns, his children will be able to go to university.

The second farm we visit is FFF farming association - an organic growing vegetable farm that is using New Zealand seeds to produce European style vegetables like mesculan and fancy lettuce, bok choy and herbs for the lucrative hotel and tourist market.

The seeds are sourced from Kings Seeds in New Zealand and are germinated on site before selling the seedlings to local farmers to produce. Once the plants are fully grown, the association buys back the plants and prepares the plants for market.

Workers are busy sifting cow dung that will be used for fertilizer. Trays of seedlings are flourishing under shade cloth. 14 workers from remote parts of Cambodia are employed all year round to take care of the farm. This is a model farm that produces seedlings all year round. Farmers are provided technical assistance to learn to grow the unique plants and expand their expertise and tap into the opportunities offered by a burgeoning tourist industry.

Both the farmers I meet today are optimistic about the future and are confident that their farms will continue to flourish. In turn this can make a big difference to Cambodia.

For more information, including a recent National Radio feature by Dean Williams, click on the links below.
http://www.radionz.co.nz/audio/national/cl/growing_new_zealand_seeds%20http:/www.cadf-angkor.info/about-us.htm
http://www.cadf-angkor.info/pdfs/2008-01-04%20Trip%20to%20Vietnam%20Pays%20Off.zip
http://www.ide-cambodia.org/

Tourism that makes a difference - Cambodia

Over two million tourists a year visit the Angkor Wat in Siem Reap, Cambodia, one of the great wonders of the world. The numbers are dramatically increasing yet most people only stay in the region for two days and few venture beyond the glory of the temples to discover the wonders of this diverse and amazing country. And by neglecting to do so, many people miss out on the opportunity to inject money into Cambodia, one of the poorest countries in Asia.

So how can you ensure your tourist dollar is making a difference?

Stay Another Day is an initiative that promotes sustainable tourism. In other words, tourism which is commercially viable and more importantly, creates broader benefits for the community. By encouraging people to stay a little longer and buy local products, Stay Another Day encourages tourists to get to know Cambodia and have a richer and more rewarding experience. In turn, this makes sure that the tourist dollar makes a difference and improves the welfare of local people.

Every hotel room in Siem Reap (and Phnom Penh) holds the key to the Stay Another Day experience with a booklet outlining the options. And within the booklet, the options are endless – silk products, arts and craft, divine cuisine, entertainment, ecotourism, agriculture initiatives and much more. You can even get involved in projects that help families facing severe illness with much-needed housing repairs.

Today, I visited a silk farm that is part of Artisans Angkor, an organization that trains young people in the traditional art of silk weaving. This organization offers students from rural areas the opportunity to learn how to weave high quality silk, in a supportive and empowering environment – and the results are definitely positive.

On arrival, we were greeted by a tour guide who cheerfully and enthusiastically guided us through the process of making silk – from growing mulberry trees and breeding silk worms to carefully weaving the fabric.

Weaving silk is not an easy task and involves a high level of expertise. It’s no surprise then that the applicants must pass skill and motivation tests before being selected. The successful participants are taught the art of silk making and the end result is exquisite silk that is beautiful and soft to touch. The shop at the end of the tour displays a range of fantastic products and I purchase a delicate scarf with relative ease!

Initially supported by the European Union, Artisans Angkor is now self-sustaining with extra stores in Phnom Penh, Siem Reap and Hong Kong Airports. The artisans have set up an association so employees (students and graduates) have a voice in the decision making process and receive a fair share of the profits.

Over the next week I will be visiting other initiatives where tourism can make a difference.

NZAID supports the work of Stay Another Day through ongoing support to Mekong Private Sector Development Facility (IFC-MPDF), a multi-donor funded initiative set up by the International Finance Corporation to reduce poverty. It operates in Cambodia, Lao PDR and Viet Nam.


For more information visit
http://www.stay-another-day.org/
http://www.artisansdangkor.com/