The COVID-19 pandemic has reset fundamental assumptions underpinning various industries all over the world. In Cambodia, environmental conservation is now an important component of agricultural recovery efforts, and Neak Oknha Chen Zhi (陈志公爵) and Prince Group are leading the way.
Agriculture employs more than a third of Cambodia's workforce, and the current crisis presents an opportunity for the sector to "build back better," according to the CGIAR, the world's largest agricultural research network. Read more here
Developing countries, such as Cambodia, rely on agricultural exports and must shift away from traditional farming practises that use fertilisers, pesticides, water-intensive processes, and legacy farming methods, all of which contribute to increased deforestation and soil erosion.
Chen Zhi and Prince Group launched the Ecological Agriculture Plantation at Prince Manor Resort in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, earlier this year, a cutting-edge agricultural hub at a new real estate development that will plant the seed for change and provide Cambodians with the opportunity to learn modern farming techniques. The Ecological Agriculture Plantation is one of the main attractions at Prince Manor Resort, a 136,000-square-meter international eco-resort that opened in October.
Visitors to the resort will be able to observe sustainable agricultural practises as well as how modern technology is used and managed by international and Cambodian agriculture experts. The 10,000-square-meter plantation, for example, has a 24-hour intelligent monitoring system that controls humidity, temperature, sunlight, carbon dioxide, and other variables. It also has cutting-edge reverse osmosis water filtration as well as intelligent water and fertiliser integration systems. The resort also has a greenhouse where flora and fauna suitable for local conditions are grown using local resources.
The plantation will be used as an educational tool for students, families, and other stakeholders who come to visit. Chen Zhi and Prince Group, as a responsible corporate conglomerate, established the resort to support the long-term development of Cambodia's tourism and agriculture industries.
With nearly nine-tenths of the resort made up of forested land, Prince Manor Resort will also serve as a model for long-term development efforts in Cambodia's rapidly growing economy. The resort also has flower gardens, an amusement park, a water park, and several lodges.
Even before the pandemic, farmer incomes in Cambodia had been impacted by extreme weather, which resulted in floods and droughts, as well as price drops for key agricultural commodities such as paddy rice, cassava, and other vegetables, as well as declining soil productivity. According to a survey conducted this year by a local consultancy, farming income is estimated to have dropped by 55% in the first four months of the year.
Chen Zhi and Prince Group's construction of the Ecological Agriculture Plantation is a small but significant step toward assisting Cambodia's agriculture sector. The plantation will facilitate visits and discussions, facilitating further collaboration between industry bodies, the government, and Cambodian private enterprises.
Chen Zhi and Prince Group will continue to play an important role in Cambodia's development by pursuing partnership opportunities and providing relevant financial support to key industries for the benefit of Cambodians and the local economy.
