Mr. Leang Sokna’s Journey Towards Climate-Smart Farming
Increasing climate-related challenges continue to create vulnerability for farmers in Cambodia. For Mr. Leang Sokna, resilience therefore means continuously adapting and combining approaches, rather than relying on a single solution.
Sokna has implemented various sustainable agricultural practices (SAPs) over the past 3 years and counting. He is now a key farmer implementing the climate-resilient agriculture demonstration plots and renewable green technologies supported by the EU-German CAPSAFE project and member of a Modern Agricultural Community (MAC) in the Tboung Khmum province, Cambodia.
Increasing rainfall and droughts, rising temperatures, pest infestations, and plant diseases, pose serious threats to pepper farms and farmer livelihoods. These pressures can reduce yields and increase farmers’ production costs.
Therefore, Sokna concocts organic fertiliser at home by fermenting fish compost and applying it to the pepper poles. He aims to improve soil health and to reduce expensive production input costs, not only for himself, but for his fellow farmers. Through the EU-German CAPSAFE project, he aims to increase fertiliser production from one barrel to 15 barrels per year. However, the high costs of fish this season pose a challenge to his goal. This year, Sokna only produced 2 barrels. His experience demonstrates how smallholder farmers are often vulnerable to market fluctuations. Therefore, rather than relying on one technique, Sokna combines various SAPs to strengthen his climate resilience and income security.
After attending trainings held by the EU-German CAPSAFE project, Sokna implemented a variety of new techniques. His farm exhibits an array of cover crops, a technique that helps protect soil health while increasing biodiversity on the farm. Furthermore, he uses wood vinegar as a natural insecticide to help combat infestations of mealybugs and fungal plant diseases. Sokna purchased a solar-powered irrigation system. It provides a clean and reliable water source that is particularly essential during periods of drought. In addition, a water drainage system helps prevent water logging during rainy seasons and potential soil-borne diseases.
Through the combination of SAPs, Sokna successfully yielded 2 tonnes of black pepper from the 1600 poles this harvest in 2025 and has already seen an increase in yield in 2026. Thanks to his efforts, his farm is organically certified, allowing him to regularly supply certified pepper to international buyers. This harvest, he sold pepper for 5.75$ per kilo, compared to the average price of 5$ per kilo in Tboung Khmum in 2026.
His experience demonstrates that climate resilience is not built from a singular solution. By combining organic fertiliser, wood vinegar, cover crops, and solar-powered irrigation, Sokna strengthens the resilience of his farm and his family. Through his key famer position, he can share his knowledge with fellow pepper farmers and contribute to sustainable, reliable, and safe pepper production. Ultimately, his adaptiveness and knowledge make him a model for the pepper community.
About Mr. Leang Sokna:
Sokna is a key pepper farmer and a member of a Modern Agricultural Community (MAC) in the Tboung Khmum province, Cambodia. His 1600-pole farm has been selected by the EU-German CAPSAFE project as a demonstration plot, where a range of sustainable practices and technologies are being demonstrated, including soil and nutrition management, post-harvest processing, agroforestry, solar-powered water irrigation and pumps, and crop varieties and genetic improvement.
Sokna is also among over 3,000 farmers trained in climate-smart agriculture through the EU-German CAPSAFE project.
About the 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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