Practicing new Rice improvement program!

We are in the rainy season here in Cambodia, and it is a right time for community members to start to grow and transplant their rice! Supported by our CHOICES for Children project, we have introduced the Rice Improvement Program for better yield and savings...! These techniques have been introduced in our Reflect Circle Group meetings followed by some ongoing training for those who are interest called Interest Groups. Below is a summary of the 12 key SRI practices:

1. Apply natural fertilizer (especially compost). 

2. Transplant only healthy seedlings.

3. Wider spacing between hills.

4. When transplanting, softly uproot seedlings to avoid trauma, especially to the roots.

5. Transplant young seedlings, ideally less than 15 days old.

6. Transplant fewer seedlings per hill; preferably one seedling (maximum of three).

7. Shallow transplanting.

8. Transplant seedlings quickly and carefully.

9. Transplant seedlings in a square pattern.

10. Maintain lower level of water in the rice field.

11. Weed frequently to improve soil aeration (2-4 times).

12. Level the soil of both the seedbed and rice field.

Here are some pictures showing our project team working with the farmers practicing the new techniques:

Community Campaign as the last session of a Reflect Learning Unit (RLU) training of trainers!

At the end of Reflect Learning Unit #9 on Micro-nutrients, the final session is a putting it all together campaign that highlights what participants learned about micro-nutrients. These photos highlight the vegetables participants brought to demonstrate foods high in nutrients and the participation by Health Center and district government in the role plays and other participatory celebration events. Our team was very excited as they thought they would have to buy vegetables for the event, but the community members brought the vegetables themselves as they were so happy to show what they had learned during the sessions all week.