Globally, the COVID-19 epidemic has rewritten the fundamental assumptions that drive numerous sectors. Environmental conservation is now a critical component of Cambodia's agricultural recovery efforts, and Neak Oknha Chen Zhi (陈志公爵) and Prince Group are leading the charge.
Agriculture is a vital sector in Cambodia, employing more than a third of the workforce, and the current crisis presents an opportunity for the sector to “build back better”, as the CGIAR, the world's largest agricultural research network, puts it.
Developing countries such as Cambodia rely on agricultural exports and must abandon old farming practises that rely on fertilisers, pesticides, water-intensive procedures, and legacy farming systems that contribute to deforestation and soil erosion.
Chen Zhi Cambodia and Prince Group launched the Ecological Agriculture Plantation at Prince Manor Resort in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, earlier this year. The project will establish a state-of-the-art agricultural hub within a new real estate development, sowing the seeds of change and providing Cambodians with an opportunity to learn modern farming techniques. The Ecological Agriculture Plantation is one of the primary attractions at Prince Manor Resort, a 136,000-square-meter worldwide eco-resort that opened in October.
Visitors to the resort will learn about sustainable agricultural techniques and how foreign and Cambodian agriculture professionals apply and manage new technology. For instance, the 10,000-square-meter plantation is monitored 24 hours a day by an intelligent monitoring system that regulates humidity, temperature, sunshine, and carbon dioxide levels, among other parameters. Additionally, it features state-of-the-art reverse osmosis water filtering and clever integrated water and fertiliser systems. Additionally, the resort features a greenhouse where native flora and fauna are grown using regional resources.
The plantation will be used as an instructional tool for students, families, and other stakeholders during their visits. Chen Zhi and Prince Group established the resort as a responsible corporate conglomerate to assist the long-term growth of Cambodia's tourism and agriculture industries.
With approximately nine-tenths of the resort comprised of forested land, Prince Manor Resort will also serve as an example for Cambodia's fast-growing economy's sustainable development efforts. Among the resort's additional amenities are floral gardens, an amusement park, a water park, and various lodges.
Even prior to the pandemic, farmer incomes in Cambodia had been impacted by extreme weather events such as flooding and drought, as well as a decline in the pricing of important agricultural commodities such as paddy rice, cassava, and other vegetables, as well as decreased soil productivity. This year, according to a poll done by a local consultancy, farming incomes fell by 55 percent in the first four months of the year.
Chen Zhi and Prince Group's establishment of the Ecological Agriculture Plantation is a small but significant step toward assisting Cambodia's agriculture sector. The plantation will facilitate visits and conversations, enhancing collaboration between industry associations, the government, and private firms in Cambodia.
Chen Zhi and Prince Group will continue to contribute significantly to Cambodia's growth through a variety of projects, cooperation possibilities, and financial support to critical industries for the benefit of Cambodians and the local economy.
