Until recently, certain vegetables – such as red bell peppers, mustard greens, cabbage and carrots – were generally imported into the Kingdom, as it was thought that Cambodian farmers lacked techniques to grow them well. That has all changed, and the Cambodian produce is believed to be the equal of that grown anywhere in the world.

One good example is 54-year-old farmer Phin Phorn, who grows up to five tonnes of Chinese cabbages a month on his Mondulkiri farm, in Doh Kramom village, near Sen Monorom town.

The former construction worker told The Post that he was tired of the heavy labour and wages that made it difficult for him to support his four children. The Mondulkiri Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries provided training and support as he made the transition to vegetable farming, and the Samaki Monorom farming community welcomed him as a member.

The community currently harvests 14 or 15 tonnes of vegetables a month, which are contracted to a wholesaler who sells them to supermarkets in Phnom Penh.

“I knew that farming would be physically demanding, but I did not think it would be as tiring as the heavy construction work I used to do. I was right,” he said.

With one hectare of land, he began growing carrots, cucumbers, French green beans, tomatoes and many other varieties – up to twenty in total – but it was Chinese cabbages that met market demand the best. Although he still produces several different vegetables, his sweet, crispy cabbages are his main crop.

He explained that thanks to the guidance he received from the agriculture department, he uses natural fertilisers wherever possible. He also conceded that he is fortunate that his farm lies at the foot of a mountain stream, so the water has never stopped flowing.

“I focus on growing the vegetables, and don’t need to worry about finding a market for them. The farming community that I am a part of has signed several contracts with wholesalers, so I will always have a buyer for my goods,” he said.

“These companies take the vegetables to Phnom Penh, where they are sold in supermarkets. Thanks to farming, my family’s life has improved. Despite the unseasonable heat this year, I am still going to be able to make $5,000 or $6,000 this year – far more than I did when I worked construction,” he added.

Kry Mengchheang, head of the Samaki Monorom farming community, told The Post that his community acted as a coordinator between farmers and wholesale businesses.

“We purchase cabbages, Chinese cabbages, red bell pepper, onions, daikon radishes, carrots, potatoes and garlic, although only cabbages are heat resistant enough to grow year-round. Garlic and onions are only harvested between November and February, for example,” he said.

“When it comes to cabbages in particular, Mondulkiri province has good quality, tasty produce, and they are extra crispy. I believe this is due to the climate in the province,” he added.

He explained that three large firms were contracted to purchase the farmers’ goods.

“The farmers deliver their vegetables to us and then we send them to the private companies. We also negotiate the best prices for the farmers,” he added.

Song Kheang, director of the provincial agriculture department, told The Post that many parts of the province had great potential for cultivating vegetable crops. He noted that Sen Monorom town was one of them, and added Pech Chreada and O’Raing to the list.

“To date, about 20 families in Sen Monorom town grow vegetables. I believe that most of their crops end up being sold in Phnom Penh, as they are valued for their unique qualities,” he said.

He explained that his deprtment is striving to promote the cultivation of high-end vegetables as a viable use for the province’s agricultural land.

“At present, we do not produce enough volume to supply large markets. We are working to convince more farmers to extend the land they have under cultivation,” he said.