Asparagus, a perennial flowering plant cultivated as a vegetable crop, can thrive for a robust 15 to 20 years.

This foreign import has been nurtured into a thriving industry by a local farmer in Battambang province, with a high market demand making it worth his while.

The cultivator’s 4ha land in Chi Neang Krom village of Ratanak Mondol district’s Traeng commune has become a green sea of potential prosperity. From afar, Sou Bunny’s asparagus farm mirrors a verdant meadow.

A 55-year-old father of three sons, Bunny has been cultivating asparagus since 2017, with his wife and eldest 25-year-old son by his side.

Bunny embarked on his asparagus venture without any formal knowledge or techniques. Undeterred, he decided to work in Thailand as an asparagus grower for six months, trading theoretical knowledge for practical experience.

A Thai friend of his – an instructor at an agricultural university – also provided invaluable insights on the craft of growing asparagus. In 2017, Bunny invested in seeds from Thailand at the cost of $1,000 per kilogram.

“I think it’s not expensive compared to other crops like cassava, which costs about $700 to $800 per hectare and has a lifespan of only one year, while asparagus can last up to 15 to 20 years,” he said.

His cultivation method began with sprouting the seeds in a field before transplanting them and setting up an irrigation system. To ensure the asparagus stalks thrive and prolong their lifespan, they are nurtured in a nursery until they reach five months.

They are then moved to flat ground with regular watering, frequent weeding and mulch application. Bunny has been reaping the fruits of his labour for approximately six to seven years now.

Before the Covid-19 pandemic, he could harvest between 200 to 400kg of asparagus daily, translating into a handsome profit of $300 to $400.

There were a few other asparagus growers in Battambang province, but perhaps their lack of technical know-how thwarted their success.

However, the pandemic disrupted his thriving trade. Bunny recalled how over three tonnes of asparagus meant for buyers in Phnom Penh had to be discarded as several areas were designated red zones. His access to buyers was blocked, and they too couldn’t collect his produce, leading him to sell off his crop.

Gradually, as conditions improved, demand for Bunny’s asparagus resurged. He could sell between 50 to 60kg daily to a company that would further distribute it to supermarkets in Phnom Penh.

Bunny’s business isn’t confined to selling to a single place. He also caters to online customers across Tbong Khmum, Sihanoukville, Pursat, Kampong Cham, Siem Reap, Poipet and Banteay Meanchey province.

Customers usually purchase between 10 to 20kg of asparagus at a time, an amount he can readily supply from his 4ha farm.

However, the pandemic led to a reduction in his workforce, decreasing from 15 to a mere nine workers. Nevertheless, Bunny remains undeterred in his pursuit of asparagus cultivation.

Citing Thai agricultural documents, he notes that asparagus is a health food, packed with almost 20 types of vitamins per 100 grammes.

His own experiences attest to its health benefits – while his heart condition used to startle him awake at the sound of a car horn, that is no longer the case. Regular consumption of asparagus may even lower the risk of kidney failure, he added.

When asked about Bunny’s asparagus cultivation, Chhim Vachira, director of the Battambang provincial agriculture department, acknowledged his long-standing venture.

He observed that Bunny’s initiative to bring back seeds from Thailand to plant them locally, coupled with his established buyer relationships, has been instrumental in his success.