Siem Reap Farmers Preserve Ancient Rice Cultivation Traditions

In Sot Nikum district, Siem Reap province, Cambodia, some farmers are preserving traditional rice cultivation methods passed down from ancestors, eschewing modern agricultural technology and mechanization. This practice serves not only to transmit culture to the next generation but also brings new possibilities to the local economy. Sun Channa, a resident of Kien Sangkar commune's Trai Tang Thung village in the district, explained that while most modern farmers utilize machinery for plowing and direct seeding, her village maintains traditional methods for some of their paddy fields. These include manual transplanting of rice seedlings and harvesting with sickles. "This is a custom passed down from our ancestors, and we continue it so that our children and grandchildren can see and inherit this tradition," she stated. According to Sun Channa, this traditional farming not only yields agricultural benefits but also fosters a close-knit community atmosphere. Mutual assistance during transplanting and harvesting strengthens bonds among villagers. Furthermore, the picturesque scenery of lush green paddy fields, coupled with naturalistic rice planting and harvesting activities, attracts the attention of both domestic and international tourists eager to understand the lifestyle and original culture of Khmer farmers in the Angkor region. She expressed her hope that the continuation of these traditional rice farming customs will significantly contribute to preserving the identity of Cambodian agricultural culture, enabling future generations to recognize and understand it more clearly. Source: Kampuchea Thmey Local