ECO-FARM Plan
We started our farm at the orphanage in 2008. At the time we had little skills or experience but since then the staff and the children have received training in cropping and feeding from the National Agriculture Department, NGOs and individuals with particular expertise. We have limited land and the crops are very seasonal - needing water supplies in the dry season and coping with flooding during the rainy season.
In an attempt to solve the problem we are working towards developing a master plan for an Eco-Farm where we can grow vegetables and fruit and breed fish and pigs in a push to become self sufficient. To achieve this goal we need support and donations from schools, institutes, NGOs and charitable people around the world - your help is important. Real Help - Real Hope.
What the Eco-Farm is going to be used for:
- To provide healthy organic fruit and vegetables for the children in residence.
- To provide year-round nutritious food supplies for the orphanage
- To provide a source of income through selling some of our produce
- To become a centre for training children in cropping and feeding
- To become a centre which can provide training for villagers and village children in order to improve their standards of nutrition and health.
When our fish breeding plans are advanced enough to support our orphanage children, we will be able to move towards helping poor families in the surrounding villages - hence raise their standards of living.
In order to achieve this, these are some of the things we need:
A. We hope to purchase 4 (four) pieces of land which currently have different owners but may be available for purchase. All these blocks of land are adjacent to the current site owned by the orphanage.
1)-The land we hope to use for papaya, vegetables and mushrooms is 125m x 46m and will cost US $7,500.
2)-The land we plan to use for dragon fruit, for the compost facility, the staff dormitory, the piggery and duck farm is 64m x 48m and the village owner is a asking US $5,000.
3)-The land planned for the growing of edible gourds, for fish breeding - (the pond will be 25m x 70m x 48m) - is an area of 73m x 70m and is likely to cost US $5,500.
4)-The land located adjacent to the western fence of the orphanage is owned by a local villager but if purchased will extend the land available to the Orphanage - it’s size is 74m x 43m and will cost US $5,000
B. We need to dig 5 (five) more fish ponds to fully develop the Eco-Farm
Why do we need to do this?
Our current rice field is low-lying and always floods during the rainy seas. We need to build up the level of the land to avoid this, but bringing soil from outside is very expensive (US $2 for every 3 meters of landfill.) The alternative is to increase the number of fish ponds and use the soil that is removed to raise the level of the rice field - hence to prevent large areas of flooding during the rainy season, as has happened in previous years. The plan then is to:-
- 1. Dig a pond (20m x 30m x 5m) in the edible fruit area. This will provide for 24000 fish from which we will harvest 4000kg of fish each year. The cost of this is estimated at US $6,000
- 2. Dig a pond in the dragon fruit area (20m x 30m x 5m) which can also have a capacity of 24000 fish and an annual harvest of 4000kg. The cost of this is estimated at US $6,000.
- 3. At the Eco-lodge within the orphanage grounds, we will develop a small pond (10m x 10m x 5m) with a capacity of 4000 fish and an anticipated yield of 600kg. The cost will be US $1,000.
- 4. In the chicken and banana area we will dig a small pond (10m x 15m x 5m) with a capacity of 6000 fish and an annual harvest of 900kg. Cost US $1,500.
- 5. Between the Eco-lodge and the vegetable area we will dig a pond
(30m x 70m x 5m) and this large project has the capacity to hold 84000 fish and produce a yield up to 16,000kg per year. The cost will be approximately
US $21,000.
So in addition to helping us solve the annual flooding problems we significantly increase the number of fish in our breeding ponds and give a significant protein boost both to the daily diet of the children, as well as providing produce to add to the income of the orphanage. The total project cost for the fish ponds is US $35,500 and the work can be carried out in stages, optimally between March and June.
C. At the Eco-farm we intend to plant
- 250 Mango trees
- 150 Coconut trees around the fish ponds
- 500 clumps of Dragon Fruit
- 350 mixed Orange and Lime trees
- 450 Papaya trees
- 500 clumps of Banana plants
- As well as vegetables that will provide a year round supply including gourds, chili, beans, tomatoes, pineapples, cucumber, Chinese cabbages, sweet peppers, sweet potatoes, green ions, eggplants, pumpkins, corn etc..
Last year we purchased a small parcel of land close to the orphanage and have already planted 60 Mango trees, 200 bananas and approx. 300 Kornthom Thet and Sa Om trees to act as a fence - leaving some space for vegetables to provide shelter and feed for the chickens.
We welcome any donations of vegetable seeds etc from individual donors or organizations to test at the Eco-Farm to see if they are suitable for our Cambodian soils and climate.
D. Our Building Plans
To improve the quality of life for the children and better living conditions for the staff and the older children we need to develop in the following areas:
1-A new boy’s dormitory
The current dormitory was built in 1984 and as one of the oldest buildings is starting to show it’s age. Some of the pillars are damaged due to flooding and destruction by ants. We would like to relocate the boy’s dormitory which would include a more comfortable environment for the older boys who choose to stay on and manage the Eco-Farm. Our plan is for a building 12m x 5m at a cost of US $13,800.
2- A building for storage of rice and the thrashing machine
We need to construct a strong building suitable for the thrashing machine and our own rice supplies plus those purchased from villagers. We are currently able to meet 75% of our rice needs as well as provide a service to local village farmers. The bi-product of the thrashing machine - rice husks and bran - is used for animal food for the pigs, chickens, ducks and fish. The building will cost US $5,700.
3-Mushroom Farm Building
Currently we have established a small mushroom farm housed in a temporary shelter and we are growing enough to support our children as well as selling to the local villagers and at Pouk market.
We would have the capacity to expand this venture with a larger building - giving us the ability to provide additional income. Now we have a small truck to take supplies to market at the same time as we take the older children to High School (22Km away) each day. It will also assist with fuel costs for the truck. We are looking at a building 15m x 5m at a cost of US $3,500.
4- Piggery Building
We have been raising pigs since 2009 but the building is low-lying and floods have resulted in the increase in illness and the loss of some of our stock. Recently some of our staff and children attended training and gained knowledge and received a certificates of competence in caring for pigs. We need to start again and invest in a new building on a new site - especially as now we are producing enough bran to support the pigs and other animals. The piggery will be 20m x 5m and cost US $4,500.
5-Duck Coop Building
Currently we have 150 ducks and providing we can purchase the land we would expand the present facilities. The ducks need an area outside their coop which is fully fenced. We intend to sell out our present stock in 2011 and purchase 500 new ducks. The eggs supplement the diet of the children at Rainbow and also provide an income by being sold to the local villagers and at Puok Market. To accommodate this number we will need to build a coop 20m x 8m at a cost of US $2,800.
6-Fish Breeding Ponds
Currently we purchase all our fish stock from outside and, as the primary source of protein for the children (supplemented by some meat from the market,) costs upwards of US $25-$35 a day. We plan to breed our own fish stock in the ponds and eventually have enough fish to sell to the villagers. For this project we need to invest US $7,500.
7-Compost Facility
The use of collected animal manure from the fields to build liquid fertilizer for plants and trees is being replaced by many villagers with chemical fertilizers which are expensive and NOT environmentally friendly. Our alternative is to develop animal and plant composting facilities to enable us to produce sound organic food as well as setting an example to local communities. We need to build an appropriately designed composting facility 30m x 5m at a cost of US $3,800.
8-Crocodiles
So why do we need to keep and breed crocodiles?
Crocodiles can be safely kept in a secure and appropriate environment.
They are easy to care for and cheap to feed.
They need to be fed only 4 times a month
The water from crocodile tanks is good for planting
They are a proven source of income in CambodiaThey can be purchased at US $25 - $35 when they are 7-15 days old. In six months they can be sold for US $75 - $100. They can be seen as a savings account for our children - keeping a crocodile for 6 years will produce enough money to support a child to study at University. A crocodile tank 15m x 7m x 2.7m will support 68 crocodiles and can be built and stocked for US $8,000.
9-Dormitory for male Staff and Teachers
We need to provide suitable accommodation for our staff - some of whom have worked for us for 5 years a go- and are currently sleeping in the children’s dormitory, in the kitchen or in the library. In addition we need to accommodate the growing number of boys who are moving into High School and require some personal space for their belongings and a quiet area to study. An area 12m x 5m will cost US $9,500.
10-Dormitory for female staff & teachers
There are currently 8 (eight) women staff and teachers who work at the Orphanage and they need accommodation Monday to Saturday during the School year. Some of these come from the town (35Km away) and work at the local village school but do provide help to the Orphanage children after hours. We need to provide some support for this dedicated team. Area 12m x 5m and cost US $9,500.
During the wet season, travelling to and from the village school from the town is frequently impossible and hence these teachers, if based at the Orphanage will provide consistent, regular, education needed - otherwise schooling can be very intermittent.
These two buildings (male and female dormitories) would also serve as our centre for the Eco-Farm resources.
11-Eco-Lodge Building
We need to develop a building to attract and provide for the increased interest by tourists who wish to visit and stay in a rural setting or spend some time in the neighbouring villages - ie doing more than just visiting Cambodia to spend a few days exploring the Angkor Watt archeological sites - and wanting to experience something of rural Cambodian life.
Our current Volunteers House can only accommodate volunteers who come to work at the Orphanage - the Eco Lodge has the potential to draw income into the Orphanage as we provide basic services on a fee-paying basis. This will also open up the opportunity for our children to learn some basic hospitality skills. We hope that both the Orphanage and members of the local community can benefit from this venture. We would need a building 21m x 5m and the cost would be in the vicinity of US $18,000
We are aware that these items are part of a long term plan for Rainbow Orphanage - but if we are to move towards full self sustainability they will need to be prioritized and some are linked to the ability of the organization to supplement their current land area ownership. We see it as an investment for life as there are still many children, orphaned, abandoned and vulnerable who need the opportunities, especially education, that the Orphanage can provide.
If you can help in any way, please don’t hesitate to contact us
Contact person : Mr Pol Pean
Contact number : Tel (588) 12 963 870 / Email: children@wfc-kh.org / Website: wfc-kh.org
Address: Ka Ektom village, Reul Commune, Pouk District , Siem Reap Province, Cambodia.
