Empowered Women, Resilient Farms: Bora’s Story
A successful pepper farmer and a mother of six, Ms. Tov Bora has become a leader in her community. Facing the increasing impacts of climate change and gender inequalities in Cambodia, Bora refused to be defeated by these challenges. Instead, she utilises her advocacy and knowledge to improve the livelihoods of herself and her community.
Among many farmers in Cambodia, Ms. Tov Bora has experienced the reality of climate change. With higher temperatures and irregular rainfall patterns in recent years, Bora already struggled with productivity at her farm in Kampot. Pest infections and plant diseases, expensive fertiliser and pesticides, an unreliable irrigation system, worsened the consequences. In 2024, a drought threatened the livelihood of her household and community. Yet, Bora remained determined to be a role model for her family and community to overcome these challenges.
Her experiences reflect the wider stories of many women in the pepper sector. Although women play a major role in agri- and food systems, they continue to face unequal access to resources and knowledge, decision-making, and leadership opportunities. Climate change exacerbates their vulnerability.
After joining the Kampot Pepper Promotion Association, Bora chose to voice collective needs for household livelihood and agricultural technique improvements. Following the drought, Bora advocated for and obtained a new pond, shared between herself and 5 farmers and initiated the procurement of a solar-powered water pump.
Through training led by the EU-German CAPSAFE project, Bora has strengthened her knowledge of climate-smart farming techniques. She now mitigates pest infestations by practicing Integrated Pest Management (IPM), monitoring soil health, and applied organic fertiliser this year.
Her access to knowledge has had tangible results. Bora received an organic certification, increasing the traceability and market value of her pepper. Now, Bora supplies pepper to an EU buyer biyearly. By raising the prices of her pepper products by 3$ in 2025, she continues to support her children in the pursuit of higher-level education in medicine and engineering.
Bora’s confidence and intelligence on the business and agricultural level are not only impactful on her business, but those around her. Above all, Bora’s advocacy makes her a strong role model and one among the board leaders in her field. Her story demonstrates how the empowerment of women enhances community and individual climate resilience. Ultimately, a sustainable agricultural system cannot be achieved without raising awareness and integrating gender equality.
About Ms. Tov Bora:
Ms. Tov Bora is a key pepper farmer of a 1,000-pole farm in the Kampot province. Along with her husband, she grows different types of pepper: red, white, black, and green. Working with the EU-German CAPSAFE project, Bora frequently attends farmer trainings and workshops. Alongside, she is a member of the Board and Executive Committee in the Kampot Pepper Promotion Association (KPPA) since 2024.
Ms. Bora is 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
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