Kampong Thom Residents Urged Towards Self-Reliance by Minister

Minister in Charge of the Office of the Council of Ministers Vongsey Vissoth has urged residents of the Sampreach Meanchey Agricultural Community in Kampong Thom province to build sustainable livelihoods through their own skills and hard work, rather than relying on external assistance. During a visit to the community, Vissoth, who also heads the Royal Government Working Group for Kampong Thom, explained that the group is working to create employment opportunities and strengthen local economic development from the provincial level down to villages and communes, ensuring that development directly contributes to improving livelihoods and reducing poverty. Vissoth stressed that for agricultural communities to become self-sustaining in the future, they must strengthen their leadership, governance, and financial management, while fostering unity, discipline, honesty, diligence, and a strong sense of responsibility. He also highlighted the importance of active community participation, including financial contributions from members. "Anything that is simply given away for free is of little value. In the end, it disappears because people don’t develop a sense of ownership, they don’t make the effort and they don’t take responsibility for it," he stated. He continued, "But when something is earned through hard work and perseverance, it lasts. Countries that have achieved lasting development did so because their people became self-reliant, not because they depended on aid forever. Their people were able to stand on their own feet, and that is the approach we want to bring here." The minister referenced the well-known principle of "teaching a man to fish rather than giving them a fish," noting that the project's focus is on equipping farmers with practical knowledge and technical skills through training. Members of the Sampreach Meanchey Agricultural Community are being supported to independently manage crop cultivation, livestock production, and organic fertilizer manufacturing before marketing their products to generate household income. "We are here to teach people how to catch fish, not simply to give them fish," Vissoth said, adding that the success of this mission will be measured when community members no longer need assistance from anyone—when they can support themselves, rely on themselves, and continue to prosper by strengthening their own capacity and sense of ownership. The Kampong Thom Livelihood Improvement Project was launched in April 2025 and will run for four years, from 2025 to 2028. It provides matching grants to 75 agricultural communities across all nine districts and municipalities of the province, with a total budget of more than $430,000. Funding was provided by Vissoth, the provincial working group, and other donors, including a $200,000 personal contribution from the minister. To date, implementation agreements have been signed with 22 agricultural communities and two producer groups, representing funding commitments of nearly $200,000. The project aims to promote diversified small-scale agricultural production that requires relatively low investment while generating quick returns. Rather than focusing solely on household subsistence, it encourages production for commercial markets, helping rural families create additional employment opportunities and supplement their income alongside traditional livelihoods such as rice farming, crop cultivation, and fishing.