Sweet melons, like the ones that will be grown in Siem Reap’s Banteay Srei district. SIEM REAP INFORMATION DEPARTMENT
The head of a Japanese agriculture consultancy has announced his company’s intention to train the residents of Siem Reap’s newly established Run Ta Ek village to cultivate melons, said the provincial department of information.
Katsuhito Nabeshima, the founder of Yamato Green Co. Ltd, is working with provincial authorities to establish mesh greenhouses and provide training to the inhabitants of the new village, in Banteay Srei district. The residents recently relocated from Angkor Archaeological Park to Run Ta Ek.
“We will set up the project and encourage people to grow melons again. The variety that we will grow was present in Banteay Srei district many years ago, and there is already a market for them in Battambang and Oddar Meanchey provinces,” Nabeshim explained.
He added that his company will provide the new farmers with technical instruction and mesh greenhouses to grow the melons. The company will also sign a sales contract with the farmers, and will purchase their crops, both for domestic sales and export. As melons command a high price, this will ensure a decent livelihood for the villagers.
“There are currently several farmers in Battambang who are growing them, and they are meeting with success. The melons are easy to grow, and receive a high market price,” he continued.
Heng Hom, head of the safe community committee in Banteay Srei district welcomed the project, saying it would create many new jobs, something the district needs.
He added that Japanese experts had explained that plenty of sunlight was important but that melons are easily damaged by insects or flooding. This is why it was vital that local farmers follow the advice given to them by the Japanese specialists.
He said that as far as he knew, no melons had been grown in the district since 2006, but believed this was due to climate change and a change in the necessary cultivation techniques.
“People in the district welcome the assistance of Yamato Green. They have asked that the company assist them with modern techniques, varieties and greenhouses. The local growers are used to open fields, but do not have a great deal of experience with greenhouses,” he said.
