Sokhom, age 54, and husband Pheng Sot, 63, welcomed us into their home the other day. We sat in the open living/ work space on the ground floor, underneath the raised wooden home above. Their daughter, 15, stood nearby feeding kindling in to a rustic stove, taking over cooking while Sokhom answered our questions about the impact the loan has had on their lives. Like her parents before her, and their parents, Sokhom is a farmer. It's the only work both she and her husband have ever known. She enjoys farming and says the work comes easily for her as she's been doing it her whole life.
Sokhom's loan of $300 is being repaid on schedule as of November. This is the first time she has taken out a loan through Maxima Mikroheranhvatho Co., Ltd. here in Cambodia. Previously, they had borrowed money from other MFI's but switched because it was time-consuming to go to Phnom Penh to make payments. She is very happy now borrowing through Maxima as they make house call's to collect the monthly payments. This has been an invaluable time-saver for them so that they don't lose time from their work. This new loan, funded through Kiva, has enabled them to purchase fertilizers and pesticides for their farm.
As Sokhom explained it, they are able to plant year-round, though the size of their plot of land varies seasonally due to flooding. Throughout the year they fluctuate between crops of vegetables and flowers - eggplant, basil, papaya, tuberose + cockscomb are but a few. Depending of the size of their crop at a given time, they sometimes bring the produce in to Phnom Penh to sell direct and other times sell to a local buyer who comes to their home. Though prices are constantly fluctuating due to supply and demand, they estimate they make about 50% profit for the money spent on the farm.
Before Sokhom and Pheng Sot were able to borrow money, they say they were very poor. Now that they are able to earn a better income though, they're able to visit doctors when needed and have a better standard of living. In the future, she wishes that they had more opportunity to give their children a good education and a chance at a different life, but is resigned that it's not likely. Two of her three daughters are already working in the local government-run garment factory, and she foresees that her youngest will probably do the same, unless she chooses to follow in the farming tradition. (Photo: Sokhom and daughter in basil field)
MAXIMA Mikroheranhvatho Co., Ltd.
Posted by Tami Rowan from Kean Svay district, Cambodia
Nov 12, 2007
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