Leng Inn and her husband Chuan Vande have 6 children (3 girls and 3 boys) and live in Oromcheik village, Pursat Province, Cambodia. Before they participated in HOPENZ’s L.I.F.E. Cambodia project growing Dry Season Rice, the family’s life was cripplingly poor with no steady reliable work both parents and 3 of the children worked as temporary labourers for others as and when work was available.
Most seasons they have had little rice to harvest from their small plot of land due to reduced yields because of either a lack of water or too much water with their plot being flood prone. This meant they had none of their own rice for up to 6 out of 12 months. In order to eat Inn borrowed money from a private lender at high interest rates to buy rice to feed the family.
Since joining HOPENZ’s funded project the family can now grow 2 Dry Season Rice crops per year plus a selection of vegetables for both consumption and for selling. In less than a year they have paid off their loan.
Inn and Vande are now happy because they don’t have to worry about running out of rice to feed the family. Two of the children have started attending school regularly and the family plan to purchase a bicycle so it is easier for children to attend school and a second hand “Moto” for taking surplus vegetable crops to the village centre market.
