Posted on June, 04 2025
In a village of Aboun Ler in Mondulkiri province’s Koh Nheak district, 30-year-old Khim Ratha is showing what it means to farm with purpose. A member of the Samky Rikchamroeun Agricultural Cooperative, Ms Ratha and her husband Doeun Bora grow vegetables on their 0.8-hectare farm to support their two children. Since 2022, Ratha has been selling fresh produce to local markets, earning a daily income and sustaining her family.
Until recently, waste from the farm remained a constant challenge. Vegetable scraps often spoiled and were discarded around a nearby canal, creating both environmental and hygiene concerns.
That changed when Ms. Ratha became involved in WWF-Cambodia’s Sustainable Consumption and Production (SCP) project, implemented in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries and the Ministry of Environment. Through a series of workshops, including CamGAP (Good Agricultural Practices) training and SCP awareness sessions, Ratha learned how small changes on the farm could significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions and support a more circular economy.
“I didn’t realize how much of my farm waste could be reused,” Ratha shared. “I used to throw away spoiled vegetables because I didn’t know any better. Now, I use them to feed my pigs and compost what’s left.”
Inspired by the training, she decided to integrate pig farming into her existing vegetable cultivation system. With support from the SCP project, Ratha received four local piglets, including one male and three females, in November 2024. She quickly applied her new skills, feeding the pigs entirely with leftover vegetable waste and household scraps. In just two months, the pigs had each grown to over 12 kilograms, all without purchasing commercial feed. At the same time, pig waste was composted and returned to the vegetable plots. This practice created a closed-loop system that not only minimizes waste but also reduces costs and increases productivity.
“The pigs are healthy, I’m saving money, and I’m no longer worried about waste piling up,” Ratha said. “This choice has helped me use my resources more efficiently and made me proud of what I do.”
Beyond her farm, Ratha now shares her experiences with other farmers in her cooperative. She follows hygiene protocols, attends ongoing technical sessions, and openly discusses the early challenges she faced, such as managing piglets and learning composting techniques. Her goal is not just to sustain her family but to inspire her community.
She’s also committed to passing on the support she received. “If I succeed, I’ll share my piglets with other farmers. We grow stronger when we grow together,” she said.
Ms. Khim Ratha is just one example of how WWF-Cambodia’s SCP project is helping local communities adopt sustainable practices that reduce environmental impact and improve livelihoods. Her story echoes this year’s World Environment Day theme, #BeatPlasticPollution, by showing how local innovation, waste reduction and nature-based solutions can lead to lasting change
