Recognising the growing demand for a wide assortment of vegetables, a local farmer has made a shift from traditional farming practices to cultivate rocket, also commonly known as arugula, for salad leaves, and shiso, also known as perilla, a member of the mint family used in the cuisines of Korea, Japan, Thailand and Vietnam.

This change is driven by the aim to meet market needs and improve his living standards, breaking away from almost two decades of reliance on conventional farming methods.

“There is presently significant demand for these leafy vegetables.

“Previously, the purchasing collective sought only 30kg per week, but their current demand exceeds 100kg weekly.

“But I am presently unable to meetrequirements,” said Tok Sokha, a grower of rocket and shiso leaves residing in Sret Kang Kert village, Kantraing commune, within Siem Reap province’s Prasat Bakong district.

After adhering to traditional farming methods, Sokha came to realise that his returns were inadequate. As a result, he decided to shift towards modern techniques and adopt a systematic farming approach.

In pursuit of the needed knowledge, he consulted online platforms such as Facebook and YouTube.

He also availed himself of training opportunities provided by experts from the provincial Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries.

He points out that, due to the evolving landscape and local competition, the significance of producing safe vegetables has become abundantly clear.

To acquire knowledge about cultivation techniques, he ventured into various farming communities.

One such community, in Koh Krabei village, Prek Thmei commune, within Phnom Penh’s Chbar Ampov district, piqued his interest. Here is where Sokha saw farmers cultivate rocket and shiso, varieties highly favoured by foreigners residing in Cambodia.

Sokha’s pursuit extended beyond learning cultivation methods as he delved into exploring the market for leafy greens.

Acknowledging their popularity and the limited number of local growers, he decided to initiate a trial phase by purchasing a 10g variety of rocket from a local agricultural company for 12,000 riel ($3).

“The reason I grow rocket and shiso is the noticeable increase in the consumption of these otherwise imported vegetables.

“This is the motivation behind my decision to grow both of these varieties,” he explains.

Market exploration

He explains that, in the cultivation of rocket and shiso, he initiates the process by soil preparation and seed sowing, allowing them to germinate.

After 24 days, when the seedlings reach a suitable size, he transplants them into eight furrows of varying depths, ranging from 10.5cm to 30cm. Each furrow stretches 1m in width and spans 22m in length.

To protect the plants from insects, he constructs a netting structure measuring 6m in width and 22m in length.

He says the techniques for growing rocket are akin to the cultivation of curly cabbage and lettuce. The crop can be harvested for its leaves for a period of up to six months, with sales exceeding one million leaves per month.

Sokha can begin the harvest and sale of leaves within two months of planting the seedlings. For rocket, he provides the Amarak Company, of which he is a member, with a supply at a rate of 12,000 riel ($3) per kilogram.

Subsequently, the company packages these leaves in smaller portions for retail in markets, including Aeon Mall, the Siem Reap Night Market and others.

While rocket and shiso have garnered popularity among foreigners, they have also found favour among Cambodian consumers who have sampled and developed a liking for them.

Sokha remarks that both rocket and shiso currently enjoy popularity in the local market. In the past, Amarak’s requirement was limited to 30kg of rocket per week, but the company’s demand has now surged to 15kg per day.

In the Prasat Bakong district, he has observed a lack of interest among farmers in cultivating these two types of vegetables.

He adds that shiso leaves, the most popular culinary herb used in Japanese cuisine and considered one of its seven main flavourings, also experience high demand in the local market, commanding a price of 15,000 riel ($3.75) per kilogram.

He cultivates six furrows of the plant, but its productive lifespan spans merely two months before reaching the natural end of its harvest cycle. However, during those two months, he manages to yield an impressive harvest of 135kg of leaves.

In the cultivation of shiso, he manages six cycles annually, employing nutrient-dense natural compost as fertiliser. He maintains an equilibrium in watering, avoiding excessive moisture while also preventing the delicate plants from drying out.

“Shiso is a flowering vegetable with a lifespan of just two months.

“This vegetable enjoys significant popularity among the Japanese and Korean communities in Siem Reap.

“Renowned for its distinctive flavour, it frequently finds its way into a variety of dishes,” explains Sokha.

Robust market presence

Theam Chhang, the chief of Kantraing commune, tells The Post that the community’s sustenance is predominantly rooted in agriculture.

They grow a diverse array of crops, including kale, green onion, cucumber, tomato, bitter gourd, cabbage and other vegetables, all of which command a robust market presence.

In addition, the community engages in activities like animal husbandry, fishing and the farming of fish and frogs. Like much of Cambodia, rice production stands as the primary agricultural endeavour for the commune.

“Raising frogs and fish ranks as the second most prominent economic activity in our commune. There is no concern regarding the availability of buyers for the produce,” Chhang adds.

San Samnang, vice president of an agriculture community in Prasat Bakong district, points out that there exists a strong demand for both rocket and shiso due to their appeal among expatriates in Siem Reap.

Presently, these vegetables command a substantial market interest, with daily needs ranging from 30 to 50kg. However, the current daily harvest only yields approximately 10kg.

“I recognise that Sokha’s daily yield as a single farmer of these vegetables falls short.

“Thus, I’m actively seeking fellow farmers to collectively expand the cultivation these leafy greens,” Samnang states.

He mentions that the additional cultivation of these two vegetables necessitates the use of a net house, measuring 10m in width and 25m in length.

The construction cost of such a structure would exceed $3,000, which presents a significant hurdle for farmers who struggle to secure the necessary capital.

The Kantraing commune community comprises 321 members, hailing from six villages within the commune.

Strategic significance

Khim Finan, a spokesperson for the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, tells The Post that the ministry maintains a continuous effort to promote the cultivation of crops deemed strategically significant for the agricultural sector and in harmony with established policies.

These crops include rice, cashews, pepper and vegetables. They are selected due to their well-defined and transparent price chain, covering diverse facets such as crop varieties, production techniques, processing and marketing.

“In the case of these crops, should any issues require ministry intervention, we can offer support.

However, for other crops, even new introductions, while we do not object, we encourage farmers to gain a comprehensive understanding of the entire price chain to proactively address potential challenges that may arise,” he says.

He says that the ministry will maintain a watch over the potential of these new crops.

However, the ministry will proceed with caution in terms of disseminating or promoting them until the sustainability of the price chain and long-term benefits for farmers and the agricultural sector, as well as a clear support policy, can be established.

Finan notes that going forward, the ministry does not oppose the cultivation of crops like betel nut, grapes or other newly introduced varieties not designated as strategic crops.

However, due to the misalignment of these crops with strategic policy, and with the ministry’s intent to safeguard farmers and the agricultural sector from potential risks stemming from ventures without an established value chain, careful consideration and evaluation are warranted.