First Lady Pich Chanmony, commissioner-general of the Girl Guides Association of Cambodia, taking part in harvesting vegetables with Girl Guides at schools. - Supplied
PHNOM PENH: The “Together for the Nation” movement, led by First Lady Pich Chanmony, is mobilising students, communities, and institutions across Cambodia to grow and deliver vegetables to frontline soldiers, police and displaced families, highlighting a nationwide effort driven by the spirit of “Khmer helping Khmer”.
In mid-December, Chanmony called on people from all walks of life to take part in the movement, stating that the harvested produce “is not ordinary vegetables, but the fruits of love and a spirit of national service”, aimed at supporting those stationed on the front lines and families displaced due to heightened tensions.
“I sincerely thank the strong spirit of solidarity behind this movement, from households, pagodas, schools and communities,” said Chanmony, commissioner-general of the Girl Guides Association of Cambodia.
On the morning of Jan 18, she joined the harvesting of agricultural produce at Phnom Penh Thmey Primary School in Sen Sok district, Phnom Penh.
The school is among many that have participated in growing vegetables under the spirit of “Together for the Nation” to supply frontline soldiers, police and displaced people.
Oddar Meanchey province and local authorities, harvested more than 2,000 kilogrammes of vegetables and 1,500 duck eggs for displaced residents in the province. - Supplied
She explained that the Girl Guides Association of Cambodia has mobilised its branches nationwide to encourage members and students to begin growing vegetables at schools, community land and pagodas, with the aim of strengthening the “Khmer helping Khmer” spirit and easing the food burden faced by displaced people.
Addressing students who took part in supporting frontline forces through vegetable cultivation, she said: “You should think that each vegetable plant you grow, once harvested, will be eaten by our soldiers who are protecting you on the front lines, as well as by displaced people — other children your age along the border who currently have no schools, sleeping under tents, constantly moving from place to place and lacking even clothes.”
“So what they receive is the vegetables you grow, delivering love to them. What we ask today is simply to grow vegetables, care for them and give love,” she added.
Children harvesting water spinach at the Bat Thkav Pagoda displacement camp. - Supplied
According to the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, on Jan 17, senior ministry officials, together with the deputy governor of Oddar Meanchey province and local authorities, harvested more than 2,000 kilogrammes of vegetables and 1,500 duck eggs at the agricultural farm for displaced people at the Bat Thkav Safety Center, to be supplied directly to displaced residents in the province.
The farm was established on approximately 2.5 hectares, in line with the initiative of the First Lady, with technical coordination by the agriculture ministry.
It has the capacity to produce around 1,000 kilogrammes of vegetables per day, helping to support displaced people and ease food shortages in border areas.
Met Meas Pheakdey, deputy governor of Oddar Meanchey province, told The Post that the vegetables grown in displacement camps in the province are being used directly to supply displaced families.
“They are grown by displaced people in the camps, harvested by displaced people, and consumed by displaced people themselves,” he said.
In other provinces, such as Kampot and Siem Reap, provincial branches of the Girl Guides have harvested vegetables from schools and communities, led by branch leaders. They have received help from the ministry, including the provision of seeds and technical support to strengthen food security, nutrition and the local economy.
Senior officials from the ministry noted that the “Together for the Nation” movement is not only about food supply, but also a message of Khmer conscience and unity, as people on the home front send moral support and love to frontline soldiers, police and displaced families at a time when the nation is facing challenges.
Agriculture minister Dith Tina also shared the excellent work of the Girl Guides Association of Cambodia in Kampot province. Under the leadership of Dith Nita, chair of the Board of Directors of the Cambodia Microfinance Association (CMA), they have already begun harvesting vegetables for soldiers and displaced people.
He said the ministry and the provincial agriculture department have joined in supporting the movement initiated and led by The First Lady by providing coordination, technical assistance and seeds to youth and association members to help ensure the success of this meaningful initiative.
The minister added that the ministry will continue to promote vegetable cultivation nationwide to support and improve nutrition for displaced people, especially frontline soldiers.
Khim Finan, ministry spokesperson, said that beyond schools, agricultural cultivation is taking place in nearly every border province hosting displaced people.
“In line with the minister’s guidance and the First Lady’s initiative, we have organised cultivation in displacement areas on land ranging from half a hectare to two hectares, using labour from within the camps, and supplying the produce directly back to the displaced people themselves,” he said. - The Phnom Penh Post/ANN
