Royal University of Phnom Penh

Institute of Foreign Language

GLOBAL STUDIES 201

Group 3
Members: Hem Zaryta
Heng Sokraksa
Sok Ryne
Sorn Vorleak
Prok Socheatta
Vann Sokleap
Topic: Since more and more people are increasingly concerned about healthy food consumption, they
have switched to using organic food products. In Cambodia, however, organic farm products have not
been consumed much yet. What do you think are the causes of this less consumption, and how do you
think you can help promote organic food products in Cambodia. Think of some “creative” strategies to
promote organic products.

Why are organic foods unpopular in Cambodia? With the increasing awareness on healthy food
consumption in recent decades, many people have become more selective in their appetite. However, in
less developing country like Cambodia, many people still struggle to incorporate organic food into their
kitchen. This unpopularity could be due to two main reasons: the cost and availability of organic foods
in the country. [ Writer: Prok Socheatta ]
In less developing country such as Cambodia, organic products tend to be are. This is due to the
intensive efforts and resources required for organic farming. Organic farming requires specially trained
farmers who are knowledgeable in topic such as crop and soil management, sustainability, pest and
disease management, water management and other various aspect of farming. In LCDs country like
Cambodia, farmers are accustomed to the traditional way of farming and knowledge and skills of farming
are passed down from generation to generation. Overall, there aren't enough farmers who know how to
do organic farming properly because to be called "organic," farmers have to follow strict rules about
what they can use on their crops, how they use their fields, and how they take care of the soil. For
example, instead of spraying chemical pesticides, farmers have to pull out weeds by hand and find natural
ways to stop bugs from eating their crops. All of this meticulous labor and the limited number of skilled
farmers and resources added up to the prices of organic food in Cambodia.
[ Writer: Sok Ryne ]
Another reason is the availability of organic foods in Cambodia. Cambodia's organic food market
is gradually growing. Organic produce can be mostly seen in supermarkets and specialty stores,
particularly in populated cities like Phnom Penh and Siem Reap. For example, in supermarket like Aeon
mall, we can see variety of organic foods on shelves. Aeon mall worked with local farmers to bring
healthy organic food to the public.1 However, many Cambodians prefer to buy from the local markets
where farm produce is harvest in large-scale to meet the daily demands of the public and are usually
cheaper than the organic version. Many are oblivious and indifferent to where their foods are sourced

1
Organic Agricultural Products in Aeon ( February 23, 2023): [Link]
international-standards-organic-vegetables-kampong-chhnang-province/

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from. As a result, merchants tend to sell the products that yield the most profit and are readily available.
Accordingly, they will opt out on organic products over the non-organic. This in turns, decrease the
availability for organic product in the market. Overall, the availability of organic product in Cambodia is
scarce, as it is mostly available only in supermarkets and few specialties store.
[ Writers: Heng Sokraksa and Prok Socheatta]
Nevertheless, organic foods should be made widely aware to the public. One of the most effective
strategies is to introduce organic farming into the school curriculum. Most people did not know the
benefits that they could get from it since most schools did not provide this curriculum to students.
Extracurricular activity that focused on teaching students to do organic farming can help promote health
awareness among the students. Most of them will try to participate during the session because they realize
the importance of organic products. For instance, teachers will try their best to explain the nutrients that
are contained in organic products, such as proteins, vitamins, calcium, and potassium. As a result, it can
promote healthier eating habits and empower students to make informed dietary choices that support
their overall well-being. In addition, it can enhance critical thinking skills. Studying organic food
encourages critical thinking skills as students learn to analyze food labeling, marketing tactics, and the
scientific evidence behind claims about organic versus conventional food. By engaging in discussions
and research on organic farming practices, students develop the ability to evaluate information critically
and make evidence-based decisions about their food choices. To illustrate, teachers can assign the
students to do tasks related to the research of organic products, so the students could discuss among their
peers and expand their knowledge more. Moreover, it could even spark their interests in farming,
contributing to more educated and skilled farmers in Cambodia. For instance, after high school, these
students could choose to pursue a farming major. This would be a great asset to the Cambodia in the
future as we need more farmer who are educated and skilled in the field. All in all, including organic
farming as an extracurricular activity in schools is a great wat to promote organic food in Cambodia. [
Writers: Vann Sokleap ]
Another effective strategy to promote organic food in Cambodia is by hosting different
community engagement and promoting it on media campaign. By hosting events such as agriculture
competitions, farmer meet-and-greets, and educational workshops, it can help raise awareness about the
benefits of organic food and encourage people to support it. Moreover, engaging with the community
can also encourage more people to make sustainable food choices. Additionally, partnering with
influencers or local organizations that support organic farming will help the community to become well-
known and recognized. For example, collaborating with an influencer who creates content about organic

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foods can help it reach the right audience and make a positive change in the community. According to
the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, the government introduced an organic agriculture
policy to boost production and export. This policy aims to help increase local markets and reduce
vegetable imports from neighboring countries. This will encourage farmers, agricultural communities
and the private sector to do more organic farming practices, so it can expand more market for farmers.
Therefore, it will be easy for them to export to other communities. When there are more organic products
or organic vegetables, the consumers can ensure that they are getting the best quality and safety of food
products. Thus, these engagement from community from could effectively spread the awareness on
organic foods. [ Writer: Hem Zaryta and Sorn Vorleak ] ` In
conclusion, the reasons why organic food is not so famous in Cambodia are its costly price and lack of
organic products ‘market. The price of organic food is not affordable for every person. Organic foods
aren’t widely available, most are limited to supermarkets and specialized store. However, we can promote
organic products through schools and communities. We must recognize the importance of organic
product on our health and encourages others to incorporate it in their daily appetite. [ Writer: Sorn
Vorleak.]

Reference:
1. Organic Agricultural Products in Aeon ( February 23, 2023): [Link]
visit-organic-farm-with-eu-international-standards-organic-vegetables-kampong-chhnang-
province/
2. Phnom Penh Post ( April 27, 2020 ): [Link]
makes-push-organic-veggies

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