In December, CRC graduate student Rithany Kheam traveled with a team to volunteer in Cambodia. Below are some highlights from her experience.
At the National University of Battambang, Farmer-to-Farmer volunteers met college students who had interests in plant tissue culture, aquatic vegetation, and propagation. The volunteers also toured the campus. The Plant Tissue Laboratory contained the proper equipment for tissue generation (laminar flow hood, grow room, sterile lab space, plant hormones, and plant nutrients), but was heavily underutilized due to lack of trained personnel. The volunteer paired with the lab manager taught a group of around 25 students the basic procedures used in plant tissue culture.
At the agricultural technology park in Battambang, the Center of Excellence on Sustainable Agricultural Intensification and Nutrition (CESAIN) staff showed volunteers their current sustainability research taking place. These projects include comparing various types of mulching (rice straw, leaf cover, and none at all), pest prevention (use of colored sticky pads and traps), and using short plant growth as ground cover for crops. The park is located near other farms so that it is easier for local farmers to visit and view the effects of sustainable practices.
