Trainer’s Notes for SUCCESS from Siva (30): The Heroines of Cambodia who helped the country move from famine to food sufficiency

In less than 15 years, a starving nation learned to feed itself. How? Cambodia suffered misery, violence, and poverty during the years of the Khmer Rouge and afterwards. Rice crop, which is the backbone of livelihoods of people there, was the worst affected during those years. With the request of the Cambodian Government and intervention of Dr MS Swaminathan-led IRRI, the Cambodia-IRRI-Australia-Project (CIAP) was established in the year 1986-87. That was the beginning of a relationship which went a long way in transforming the Cambodian rice economy. The adventurous journey of the CIAP team which played a key role in that transformation was beautifully depicted by its member 'Don Puckridge' in his book "The Burning of the Rice - A Cambodian Success story."

I have read this book recently and found it to be very interesting and a great resource to learn how the collaborative team effort of governments, aid agencies, NGOs, Researchers, Extension Staff, and Farmers could lead to a rice revolution in Cambodia. I would like to share with you the essence of this book by reproducing a few of the excerpts from this book and also highlighting the factors that possibly helped Cambodia bounce back from devastation to restoration to food sufficiency.

The book mentions a number of people who played a significant role and contributed to this phenomenal transformation of Cambodia. They are Harry Nesbitt, Glen Denning, Ram Chaudhary, Richard Lando, Margaret Jingco, Gary Jahn, Peter White, Joe Rickman, Ernie Nunn, Chan Phaloeun, Edwin Javier, Mayette Nadal, Chim Sarin, Socheata, and many many more people including Cambodian farmers. I would like to draw your attention to the 3 of the ladies who have been portrayed by the author as the symbol of the struggle, tenacity, and determination that were the hallmark of this whole amazing achievement. 

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The Heroines of Cambodia who helped the country move from famine to food sufficiency 

(Excerpts from the book "The Burning of the Rice by Don Puckridge)

Heroine 1 (Name unknown) 

That day we travelled only halfway to Kampong Chhnag before we had to turn back. A truck had broken through the wooden planks of a narrow bridge and blocked the way. While waiting in hope that the bridge would be cleared we walked out into the fields where I photographed a lone woman transplanting rice. Leng Tek Seng talked with her and we learned that she was a widow with three children whose father, mother and husband had been killed by Pol Pot's Khmer Rouge. She seemed to be a capable, cheerful woman and I thought how hard it was to be a widow in a harsh land.

She told us that there were 150 people in her krom Samaki, which was a solidarity group or a collective production unit. One hundred of them were female. Men did the ploughing and the women like her did all of the transplanting. On my next visit to the area I took one of the photographs to give to her, but when we showed it to the people in the same fields they all said they did not know the woman. Consequently the photo of her that graces the cover of this book is a tribute to an unknown woman, a representative of many heroines of Cambodia.

Heroine 2 (Name unknown):

The road to Kampong Chhnag was open next day, which allowed us to complete the journey and visit the site of our deep water rice trial. The young woman who had been assigned by the local agricultural office to conduct the experiment was a recent graduate from high school with no previous research experience. With just a few diagrams and translated verbal instructions she had efficiently established a trial designated to identify which of four different varieties of rice was the most productive.

The plots were precisely laid out with even rows of plants; each plot was labelled with the name of its rice variety and she had supervised construction of a fence of wooden poles. she was very attentive and carried a well organised notes of the experiment in a coloured folder. Her example indicated that with the right training the local agricultural officers would be a vital link in the search for food security in Cambodia. 

Heroine 3 (Ms Chan Phaloeun):

Like nearly everyone else in Cambodian Phaloeun had been forced to work in rice fields under the Khmer Rouge. Phaloeun returned to high school, graduated in 1980 when she was 22. She then worked for one year as a teacher before getting a scholarship to go to Russia. She said that in the year after the Khmer Rouge she had felt that her brain would not work any more, but in high school and Russia she found that she could succeed. Phaloeun worked in the CIAP project and contributed significantly and very bravely to the success of the Project. Later on she visited Australia on study tours, received training from IRRI, and attended a number of workshops. She went on to  become Head of the Farming Systems Section of Cambodian Agricultural Research and development Institute (CARDI). 

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While reading the book, I have recorded from it a number of factors that possibly contributed to Cambodia's successful transformation from a nation of starvation to self sufficiency in rice production to substantial rice exports. They are listed below:

1) It was an adventure to begin with, and people were not scared of the risks involved but excited about being a part of it.

2) Putting priorities on research was essential for success in agricultural development

3) The effort of experts was not to do the work but helping people to do it themselves. They learned quicker and better.

4) Farmers were fully involved by the researchers in their research program.

5) People were willing to sacrifice and accept tasks that were very risky (as demonstrated by many expatriates who went to work in the CIAP in Cambodia).  People took risks that involved the dangers of the highest order including the death.

6) IRRI's training of agriculture staff and technicians from Cambodia

7) Farmers needed to grow several different rice varieties to suit the quite different soil and water conditions, and they were developed and made available to them.

8) Training matters: All parties concerned had agreed that a well-equipped institute with trained staff would ensure the long term success of agricultural research.

9) Farmers adopted the new technologies the CIAP project developed and there was no turning back. 

10) Though they had passed through a period of intolerable stress, they were determined to succeed.

11) Women played a significant role in rice farming. 

12) People had an attitude of "It was a bad experience, but good because I learned to survive."

13) It was a tribute to the courage and persistence of many.

14) They could see and visualise how what they did would really make a difference.

15) The tough times made them stronger, to become more successful.

16) The team leader appreciated, "Every person would approach a problem in his or her own way."

17) The farmers took ownership.

18) Introduction of outside technologies without understanding the local farmer's context would be a recipe for a disaster. So, they considered him and involved him even in the research program.

19) When one farmer heard it, got the benefit of it, he in turn told his neighbour, an the word would spread.

20) Harry Nesbitt and his team of expatriates and Cambodians contributed to the extraordinary recovery in rice production. They needed a strong leader with foresight, dedication, determination and commitment, and they got one in Harry Nesbitt.

21) People gained a +ve attitude. Even from the bitter experiences!! And that helped them stay on the great adventure.
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These are just some of the factors. Don Puckridge made a brave effort in describing his own personal experiences while working with the people in the CIAP project over several years. It is a gripping tale that would make you curious to read if you are interested to read about rural life, agricultural transformation, especially with reference to rice research and farming. The book is published in Australia by Temple House Pty Ltd, T/A Sid Harta publishers, Hartwell, Victoria.

I welcome your comments, remarks, and opinions on this post. Please do post them in the comments options available below this post.
Wishing you continued success,

With love,

Siva

PS: Source of the info: The book, "The Burning of the Rice" written by Don Puckridge and published by Sid Harta Publishers. 

For more info, please visit the publishers' website http://sidharta.com/title/The_Burning_of_the_Rice