Beyond Bugs: Raneth's Story of Sustainable Pest Management
In 2024, what began as a few tiny pests escalated into a tragic loss for Ms. Eng Raneth’s pepper farm in Tboung Khmum province. Mealybugs, snails, and fungus-borne disease destroyed 500 pepper poles. Nearly two years later, she is still dealing with the infestation damage.
Raneth is among many pepper farmers in Cambodia, who deal with pest infestations and plant diseases. Due to climate change, higher rainfall periods increase soil moisture, which functions as a breeding ground for fungal diseases and attracts a greater number of insects. When seeking solutions, Raneth decided to use organic fertilisers. However, the lack of relevant knowledge, inaccurate and inconsistent application led to the loss of another 300 pepper poles. Again, Raneth replanted the lost seedlings. However, they require three years to grow until the first harvest. Raneth explains, these implications create great financial losses for her farm and family.
To combat the impacts, Raneth has had to adapt to the circumstances and find innovative solutions. To begin with, to reduce reliance on pesticides that can harm soil health, she caught pests by hand. Furthermore, she applied methods to reduce Maximum Residue limits (MRL) by using wood vinegar, organic fertilizer, and organic pesticides. Through the EU-German CAPAFE project, co-funded by the European Union and Germany, she strengthened her pest-management and fertiliser input techniques after trainings and workshops. With these skills and tools, Raneth seeks a long-term and sustainable solution to improve her farm production and increase yields.
As a leader of a Modern Agricultural Cooperative (MAC), elected in 2024, Raneth is an important figure for her community. Not only does she advocate for sustainable farming practices, but she has also transformed her farm into a core point for other pepper farmers. By selling both chemical and organic fertilisers, farmers come to Raneth for her advice and technical expertise. To encourage traceability and responsible usage, customers are to record the amount, type, and frequency of the fertiliser, increasing transparency that are key attractions for international buyers.
Through her determination, climate-smart practices, and business skills, Raneth has successfully found solutions to mitigate the inevitable impacts of climate change. As she nurtures the regrowth of her farm, she demonstrates to her community, MAC, and family, that persistence is key.
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About Ms. Eng Raneth
Ms. Eng Raneth is a leader of a Modern Agricultural Cooperative (MAC) and a pepper farmer in Tboung Khmum. With a 2,700 pole-pepper farm, she harvests and produces black pepper to sell to international buyers. She also sells black pepper to Vietnam for processing. Alongside, Raneth sells fertilisers and pepper harvesting equipment to other pepper farmers.
Ms. Raneth is one among over 3,000 farmers trained in climate-smart agriculture through the EU-German CAPSAFE project, supported by the EU and Germany and implemented by GIZ Cambodia.
EU-German CAPSAFE project
The EU-German Cambodia Partnership for Sustainable Agriculture and Food Systems (EU-German CAPSAFE) project is co-funded by the European Union and the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and implemented by GIZ Cambodia.
The project works closely with public and private sector partners to strengthen Cambodia’s cashew and pepper value chains through climate-smart agriculture, improved compliance with international standards, and enhanced local processing and market access. It supports farmers, cooperatives, and agribusinesses to increase competitiveness and connect with regional and international markets.
Learn more about the project: EU-German Cambodia Partnership for Sustainable Agriculture and Food Systems | GIZ
Save the date and stay tuned for the Cambodia Cashew and Pepper Trade Forum 2026: CASHEW AND PEPPER TRADE FORUM 2026 – Export More, Export Better
