Meet Sam, In and Sarang, three of our Jasmine Rice farmers from the Samaki Rong Roeung Agricultural Co-op in the Preah Vihear province in Cambodia. 

What is Jasmine Rice?

Jasmine rice is an aromatic long grain rice grown across South-East Asia and commonly associated with Thai food. It has a fluffy texture when cooked well, normally using less water than regular rice.

Where does Ceres Organics Jasmine Rice grow?

We source our Jasmine rice primarily from the north of Cambodia in Preah Vihear Province bordering Thailand, from small holder farmers (each farming around 1-2 hectares) and working with Amru Rice which is a company who help local farmers trade and reach more customers.

Lets meet some of our Jasmine Rice farmers making an impact in their local communities; 

Sam Chheang is one of our Jasmine Rice farmers, he is one of 96 small farmers from the Samaki Rong Roeung Agricultural Co-operative in Preah Vihear province, whose livelihood has changed through transitioning to organic cultivation and getting a higher return from a sustainable market.

We asked Sam, How did you get into Jasmine Rice farming?

“In the past, farmers could only grow rice for their meals, but now they have sold it to the company, (Amru) making their life prosperous by becoming profitable and more flexible.  I have been growing organic rice for almost five years now, and people in my community are turning their farming to organic, and the number of interested members is also increasing every year.”

We also met In Sderng;

In Sderng is 53 years old and is the first female commune chief of the Chhean Muk Commune and the first female leader of the Agricultural Cooperative "Improving Livelihoods" in Tbeng Meanchey District, Preah Vihear Province. Her leadership involves making a difference for her community.

“For years, our community has been facing several challenges, from environmental degradation to economic instability. And as a leader, I believe that it's our collective responsibility to find sustainable solutions to these problems. That's where organic farming comes in. Organic farming is not just about producing food without harmful chemicals or pesticides, it's also about creating a sustainable and equitable food system that benefits everyone.”

“Farmers in my agricultural Co-op also received various training courses on land preparation before planting, seed selection, organic rice transportation, harvesting, storage, and techniques to check the quality of rice to meet the needs responding to organic standards for the export of Amru Rice.”

”As farmers working with Amru we know the specific market price of rice, not just the price that the middlemen have set and we can get more than 1 million riel per ton”

(Note: The riel is the Cambodian unit of currency. 1 million riel equals about $NZ400 )

Lets introduce Saran Song another one of our farmers;

Saran Song was a rice trader when he realised he could help small farmers by changing his business model to support their transition to organic.

“Cambodian agriculture is steeped in traditional methods and is known for producing some of the finest quality products.  I saw the potential but also noticed it was cultivated by poor farmers and smallholders who could only earn subsistence income from their activities. Organics is the way to not only introduce high-quality product to the market but also to improve farmers’ livelihoods through better incomes.”

Organic agriculture is important – it not only improves people’s health but also encourages stewardship of the environment and local communities.  Amru Rice has signed up to certifications such as Fair for Life and amfori BSCI and follows UN SDG principles in looking after its farmers, employees, and customers whilst ensuring farming lands are sustainable and good for biodiversity.  Amru has been doing this since 2013 and we impact more than 20,000 farming families in Northern Cambodia.  We continue to teach smallholder farmers about better cultivation methods and aim to make Cambodia a key supplier of organic rice in the region.”

The organic farming value chain has also helped to promote environmental conservation. By reducing the use of synthetic inputs, farmers have been able to reduce their carbon footprint and protect the soil and water resources. This approach has also helped to preserve biodiversity and promote ecological resilience. Amru Rice's organic farming value chain has empowered farmers to take control of their own livelihoods. By providing technical support and access to markets, the company has helped to create a more inclusive and equitable agricultural sector. This approach has helped to reduce poverty and inequality, particularly among women and marginalized groups.

Special thanks to Sam, In and Saran for sharing their stories and photo's with us.