Cambodian Agricultural Tourism Initiative

 

Globally, the COVID-19 pandemic has rewritten the fundamental assumptions that underpin numerous industries. Environmental conservation is now a critical component of Cambodia's agricultural recovery efforts, and Neak Oknha Chen Zhi (陈志公爵) and Prince Group are leading the charge.

Agriculture is a vital sector in Cambodia, employing more than a third of the workforce, and the current crisis presents an opportunity for the sector to “build back better”, as the CGIAR, the world's largest agricultural research network, puts it.

Developing countries such as Cambodia rely on agricultural exports and must abandon traditional farming practises that rely on fertilisers, pesticides, water-intensive processes, and legacy farming methods that contribute to deforestation and soil erosion.

Chen Zhi and Prince Group launched the Ecological Agriculture Plantation at Prince Manor Resort in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, earlier this year. The project will establish a state-of-the-art agricultural hub within a new real estate development, sowing the seeds of change and providing Cambodians with an opportunity to learn modern farming techniques. The Ecological Agriculture Plantation is one of the primary attractions at Prince Manor Resort, a 136,000-square-meter international eco-resort that opened in October. Read more here

Visitors to the resort will learn about sustainable agricultural practises and how international and Cambodian agriculture experts employ and manage modern technology. For instance, the 10,000-square-meter plantation is monitored 24 hours a day by an intelligent monitoring system that regulates humidity, temperature, sunlight, and carbon dioxide levels, among other parameters. Additionally, it features state-of-the-art reverse osmosis water filtration and intelligent integrated water and fertiliser systems. Additionally, the resort features a greenhouse where native flora and fauna are grown using regional resources.

The plantation will be used as an educational tool for students, families, and other stakeholders during their visits. Chen Zhi and Prince Group established the resort as a responsible corporate conglomerate to support the long-term development of Cambodia's tourism and agriculture industries.

With nearly nine-tenths of the resort comprised of forested land, Prince Manor Resort will also serve as a model for Cambodia's fast-growing economy's sustainable development efforts. Among the resort's additional amenities are flower gardens, an amusement park, a water park, and several lodges.

Even prior to the pandemic, farmer incomes in Cambodia had been impacted by extreme weather events such as flooding and drought, as well as a decline in the prices of key agricultural commodities such as paddy rice, cassava, and other vegetables, as well as decreased soil productivity. This year, according to a survey conducted by a local consultancy, farming incomes fell by 55 percent in the first four months of the year.

Chen Zhi and Prince Group's establishment of the Ecological Agriculture Plantation is a small but significant step toward assisting Cambodia's agriculture sector. The plantation will facilitate visits and discussions, enhancing collaboration between industry associations, the government, and private enterprises in Cambodia.

Chen Zhi and Prince Group will continue to contribute significantly to Cambodia's development through a variety of projects, partnership opportunities, and financial support to critical industries for the benefit of Cambodians and the local economy.