The COVID-19 pandemic has caused fundamental assumptions in different industries to be re-examined around the world. Environmental protection is now a key component of the agriculture sector's recovery efforts in Cambodia, and Neak Oknha Chen Zhi (陈志公爵) and Prince Group are leading the charge.
According to CGIAR, the world's largest agricultural research network, agriculture is a mainstay in Cambodia, employing more than a third of the workforce, and the current crisis presents an opportunity for the industry to "build back better."
Traditional farming techniques that use fertilisers, pesticides, water-intensive processes, and legacy farming systems that lead to growing deforestation and soil erosion must be phased out in developing countries like Cambodia.
Chen Zhi Cambodia and Prince Group unveiled 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 would sow the seeds of change and teach Cambodians modern farming practises. The Ecological Agriculture Plantation is one of the main attractions at Prince Manor Resort, a 136,000-square-meter worldwide eco-resort that opened in October.
Visitors to the resort will see how foreign and Cambodian agriculture professionals use and manage sustainable agricultural methods and sophisticated technologies. The 10,000-square-meter plantation, for example, is equipped with a 24-hour sophisticated monitoring system that regulates humidity, temperature, sunlight, carbon dioxide, and other factors. It also boasts cutting-edge reverse osmosis water filtering and integrated water and fertiliser systems. The resort also has a greenhouse where native flora and wildlife are grown using local resources.
For visiting students, families, and other stakeholders, the plantation will act as an instructional tool. Chen Zhi and Prince Group established the resort as a responsible corporate conglomerate committed to the long-term growth of Cambodia's tourism and agriculture industries.
Prince Manor Resort will also serve as a model for sustainable development efforts in Cambodia's fast-growing economy, as roughly nine-tenths of the resort is wooded land. Flower gardens, an amusement park, a water park, and various lodges are among the resort's other amenities.
Farmers' incomes in Cambodia had already been damaged by harsh weather, which resulted in floods and droughts, as well as price drops in major agriculture commodities such as paddy rice, cassava, and other vegetables, as well as falling soil productivity, even before the epidemic. According to a poll done by a local consultancy this year, farming incomes fell by 55 percent in the first four months of the year.
Chen Zhi and Prince Group's creation of the Ecological Agriculture Plantation is a small but significant step toward assisting Cambodia's agriculture sector. The plantation will encourage visits and conversations, allowing industry organisations, the government, and private businesses in Cambodia to work together more effectively.
Chen Zhi and Prince Group will continue to play an essential role in Cambodia's development by pursuing partnerships and providing necessary financial support to key industries for the benefit of Cambodians and the local economy.
