Approximately 90 per cent of the people in Taloas communes in Battambang province are rice farmers. Rice farmers who were interviewed by the Women’s Media Center (WMC), reported that they were barely making a living given the low prices that middlemen pay for their crops. On the other hand, export statistics and news reports on rice production were showing net gains. WMC Open Debate provided people in the target commune with opportunity to voice their concerns about the low price of agricultural products, in particularly rice, and to call on relevant stakeholders to find strategies to help them deal with the falling incomes. 

[Teaser] Open Debate: How to help farmers when the price of rice falls and boost their income

Rice farmers in Talaos commune, Battambang province, Cambodia identified the reasons for the low rice price as: 1). farmers as price-taker, 2). monopoly power fromt he single buyer in the commune, 3). lacks of understanding about the type of rice which is in high demands, 4). limiting infrastructure to seek alternative market  and 5). lacks of co-op between farmers, to form a bargaining power. 

Original podcast on WMC website: http://www.wmc.org.kh/radio_detail/33/783

The causes of low price of rice

Approximately 90 per cent of the people in Taloas communes in Battambang province are rice farmers. Rice farmers who were interviewed by the Women’s Media Center (WMC), reported that they were barely making a living given the low prices that middlemen pay for their crops. On the other hand, export statistics and news reports on rice production were showing net gains. WMC Open Debate, which used open data on rice market and presented information graphics to the public, provided people in the target commune with opportunity to voice their concerns about the low price of agricultural products, in particularly rice, and to call on relevant stakeholders to find strategies to help them deal with the falling incomes. 



Open Debate: How to help farmers when the price of rice falls and boost their income

Although Cambodia has been developing and changing, job growth has not been catching up with the demand for work by the people. Coupled with falling incomes from agricultural sector at home, Cambodian farmers have been looking for opportunities elsewhere. As a result, migration for work has been growing in recent years. Jobs in agriculture or construction in Thailand can pay double the amount compared to the same jobs at home. Even between the neighboring countries Vietnam, Thailand and Cambodia Gross Domestic Product (an indicator measuring productivity of one country vs. another) shows big differences. This has some positive effects, but creates new problems too. For example, illegal migrant workers without passports are not in a good position to negotiate. Reports about bad work conditions and extortion are frequent. One reason is that passports in Cambodia were expensive and difficult to get.

Original podcast on WMC website: http://www.wmc.org.kh/radio_detail/33/784

Migrant Workers' Voice: The Need for Affordable and Reliable IDs Provisions

Although Cambodia has been developing and changing, job growth has not been catching up with the demand for work by the people. Coupled with falling incomes from agricultural sector at home, Cambodian farmers have been looking for opportunities elsewhere. As a result, migration for work has been growing in recent years. Jobs in agriculture or construction in Thailand can pay double the amount compared to the same jobs at home. Even between the neighboring countries Vietnam, Thailand and Cambodia Gross Domestic Product (an indicator measuring productivity of one country vs. another) shows big differences. This has some positive effects, but creates new problems too. For example, illegal migrant workers without passports are not in a good position to negotiate. Reports about bad work conditions and extortion are frequent. One reason is that passports in Cambodia were expensive and difficult to get.

WMC Open Debate and Call-in Show aimed to increase access of target people in Kakaoh commune to information on relevant public services including the provision of family book, ID card, as well as passport, and enhance the usage of local people the services in order to contribute to prevent villagers from doing risk migration. These public forms provided enabling platforms for local citizen as service demanders and service providers to create inter-dialogue on the access and delivery of public service in term of improving effectiveness of the provision and ensuring people have access and hold the legal document for reducing the risk migration.

Original podcast on WMC's website: http://www.wmc.org.kh/radio_detail/33/777

Call-in Show: IDs Provisions for Safer Migration

Although migrating overseas remain an attracting option, the boom in the garment manufacturing and construction sectors over the past years provide some alternative options to those who cannot afford opportunities abroad. However, the current minimum wage negotiations and the on-going garment workers strikes might affect the prospect of employments.

WMC conducted a radio call-in show on this topic, which was aimed to create an enabling platform for local citizen as service demanders and service providers to create inter-dialogue on fair compensation and living wages. 

Original podcast on WMC's website: http://www.wmc.org.kh/radio_detail/33/782

[Teaser] Garment Industry: Surviving vs. Living Wage

The Women's Media Centre of Cambodia (Khmer: មណ្ឌលព័ត៌មានស្ត្រីកម្ពុជា), commonly known as WMC is a Cambodian non-governmental, non profit media organization. WMC delivers national awareness and informative programs on a diverse range of issues affecting contemporary Cambodia, with a special focus on the roles and rights of Cambodian women. The centre is best known locally for its radio channel Women's Radio, FM102 or FM102 (វិទ្យុស្ត្រី អេហ្វអឹម ១០២).
 

WMC Cambodia