Field Transplanting on SRI

Lee and Ruben 2000 reported that it has become increasingly clear that minimal external-input requirements are insufficient to make new technologies attractive to poor smallholder farmers. And the priciple behind LEISA (Low External-Input and Sustainable Agriculture) that poor farmers, lacking capital and access to credit, need methods with wich they can improve yield and income without expensive inputss and without degrading the resource base on which they depend.

In such a sutuation, System of Rice Intensification (SRI) farming method was first introduced to MAdagaska and has been practiced in several other countries as an alternative sustainable low-cost system to the convention farming systems (Batuvitage, 2002:http://ciifad.cornel.edu).

SRI is based on the principle of developing healthy, large and deep root systems that can better resist drought, water logging and wind damage. It consists of six key elements to better manage inputs, utilize new ways to transplant seedlings, and to manage water and fertilizer application. Reports from thousands of SRI farmers and practitioners around the world indicate that SRI plants develop stronger stalks and more tillers, with higher yields and even better flavor qualities.
http://info.worldbank.org/etools/docs/library/245848/about.html

System of Rice Intensification was introduced to Cambodia by CEDAC who learned about SRI from the Low External Input for Sustainable Agriculture newsletter (LEISA) in December 1999 (Rabenandrasana 1999). In 2000, CEDAC also received more information on SRI from CIIFAD (Uphoff 1999 and 2000). On 20 July, 2011, ISAC School conducted the field tranplanting on SRI in Lumchung commune, Samroung district, and Takeo province. The objective of this transplating is to demonstat the priciples of SRI.

Free Medical Check Up and Treatment

The past thirty years of conflict has left Cambodia desperately impoverished. With a per capita income of less than US$300 per year and 40% of people living on less than US$10 per month, it is one of the poorest countries in the world. According to the UN Human Poverty Index, Cambodia ranks 73rd out of 78 developing countries, with one of the lowest Human Development Index rankings (137 out of 174 globally in 1999) including some of the worst human development indicators in South East Asia. (WHO CCS Cambodia 2001).

Lack of adequate water, sanitation, education, transportation, and communication have caused huge problems in the development of the health system. The most common diseases in Cambodia today are related to problems with water and sanitation.

According to Dr. My Samedy, the dean of the faculty of Medicine, the most important health problems are malnutrition, malaria, tuberculosis, and diarrheal diseases. Dr. Samedy estimates that 2 million Cambodians have malaria and 200,000 have tuberculosis. Agencies working in Cambodia identify major health problems somewhat differently, focusing on diarrheal diseases, acute respiratory infection, malaria and dengue fever, and childhood illnesses. War injuries, dysentery, typhoid, hepatitis, venereal diseases, yaws, and intestinal worms are common as well.
Source:http://www.culturalsurvival.org/publications/cultural-survival-quarterly/cambodia/health-care-cambodia

Acording to problems above, Korean Free Medical Check up and Treatment have been done every years in Cambodia exspecially in Takeo province. On 13-15 July, 2011, 7 churches joined together to provide the treatment for poor Cambodian in Kirivong and Samrong district.

The program started in Lomchung, Presbart Chorn Chum and Beng Trai Khang Cherg commune located in Samrong and Kirivong district, Takeo province. As the results, there are 1057 patients had been treated. In this treatment, we found that the most health problems are related to hypertension, backache, stress (headache, stomachache, stiff neck, chest pain, dizzy, shortness of breath...), gastitis, diabetes, vaginal discharge, lungs, cataract, chronic disease, goiter, influenza, itch, sore eye, swolen gland, typhord, rheumatism...etc.

Instead of ISAC and Cambodian people, I would like to deeply Orkun (mean thanks) to all medical mission team as well as doctors, medicine and members exspecially to missionary Kim Gidae family who always care, love and recomended medical mission team to Cambodia.
We have nothing to provide you back except praying to God to provide you strength, good health and happiness in your families.
ISAC 17 July, 2011.