SMALL-HOLDERS of cattle in Cambodia have largely struggled to crack the market chain.
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University of New England researcher Geoff Smith has been working with uneducated farmers to train them to sell cattle for profit, improve growth time and prevent disease.
“In Cambodia lots of small holders have cattle, they just keep them as cash in the bank,” Dr Smith said.
“They’re a very big asset and they tend to keep them if they need money for healthcare or unforeseen circumstances.”
We had to try and explain to them why they shouldn’t let their neighbours in especially when there’s disease going around.
- Geoff Smith.
The project worked alongside farmers, wholesalers, retailers and restaurants to set up a market chain of premium beef product.
The focus was on breaking into the Ho Chi Minh City, Phnom Penh and Siem Reap markets.
Farmers loved the increase to income, but there were some cultural issues the researchers faced.
“There were all sorts of difficult cultural issues, they like to talk to their neighbours – we had to try and explain to them why they shouldn’t let their neighbours in especially when there’s disease going around,” Dr Smith said.
“The neighbours want to come in and touch animals, farmers don’t want to be rude so they let them.”
Disease is a significant problem on small-holder farms where owners may not have the funds for vaccinations or understand the importance of refrigerated transport and vacuum-packaging.
“Currently the market is wet markets, restaurants go to the wet market everyday and buy something that has been sitting there, they’ll visually inspect with no way of knowing anything about a product,” Dr Smith said.
“They have disease problems like foot in mouth so we introduce stuff onto the farms that should cut that right down, farmers should be able to prevent disease getting in.”
The project did not establish a flowing market-chain, but if the supply lines are developed the model will be sustainable.
Dr Smith said he hopes if they return in five years the chain will be up and running.
“If people can make a dollar out of something it’s usually sustainable,” he said.
“Change takes time but I think eventually it will be taken on.”