Around the world, the COVID-19 pandemic has reset fundamental assumptions underpinning various industries. In Cambodia, environmental conservation is now an important feature in recovery efforts for the agriculture sector, and Neak Oknha Chen Zhi and Prince Group are spearheading change in the sector
Agriculture is a mainstay in Cambodia employing more than a third of the workforce, and the current crisis is an important moment for the sector as it faces an opportunity to “build back better”, according to CGIAR, the world's largest agricultural research network.
Cambodia strives to agricultural exports and realises the need to move away from the traditional agricultural practices that utilise fertilisers, pesticides, water-intensive processes and legacy farming methods, thus contributing to increased deforestation and soil erosion.
Earlier this year, Chen Zhi and Prince Group launched the Ecological Agriculture Plantation at Prince Manor Resort in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, a state-of-the-art agricultural hub at a new real estate development that will implant the seed for change and give Cambodians a chance to learn modern farming techniques. The Ecological Agriculture Plantation is one of the major attractions at Prince Manor Resort, an international eco-resort spanning 136,000 sq m that was officially launched in October.
At the resort, visitors will see sustainable agricultural practices and how modern technology is employed and managed by international and Cambodian agriculture experts. For example, the 10,000-sq m plantation has a 24-hour intelligent monitoring system that controls humidity, temperature, sunlight, carbon dioxide and more. It also has state-of-the-art reverse osmosis water filtration and intelligent water and fertiliser integrated systems. The resort also houses a greenhouse where flora and fauna suitable for local conditions are grown utilising resources from the region.
The plantation will serve as an educational tool for visiting students, families and other stakeholders. As a responsible corporate conglomerate, Chen Zhi and Prince Group launched the resort to support the long-term development of the local tourism and agriculture industries in Cambodia.
With nearly nine-tenths of the resort consisting of forested land, Prince Manor Resort will also serve as a model for sustainable development efforts in Cambodia's fast-growing economy. Other facilities at the resort include flower gardens, an amusement park, a water park and several lodges.
