Man Hayyot, once a member of an impoverished Battambang farming family, has transformed her family’s fortunes through the production of nutritious fish powder, a health supplement for children and pregnant women.

The founder of Hayyot Fish Powder, from Samdech village in Sangke district’s Ta Pon commune, her company is now considered a “model” for the effective production of the powder.

High in protein and micronutrients, including omega-3 fatty acids, zinc, calcium and vitamin B12, her powder is a nutritious supplement that can be used to improve the diets of children and their mothers.

 “The Hayyot Fish Powder enterprise processes trey changvar (small dace fish) into nutritious fish powder, sourced from local harvests,” she told The Post.

 “Rich in vitamins and proteins, it helps newborns in their first 1,000 days to remain healthy and avoid stunting or growth deficiency. It is a health supplement for children and pregnant women, and is easy to use and store for all mothers,” she added.

She spent two years learning how to produce the powder – through a course run by Save the Children Cambodia – before opening her business.

Jars of fishmeal on display at the 1st Cambodian Aquaculture Exhibition last November. Yousos Apdoulrashim

The Covid-19 pandemic presented a major challenge, nearly bringing the business to a standstill. 

However, in 2023, her enterprise received support from the UNIDO CAPFISH-Capture project, which provided material assistance, including electronics, drying machines and record-keeping equipment.

Hayyot, 36, explained that she chose dace fish for her flour, cakes and other food ingredients because it was often underutilised. 

“These fish are usually only used for making fermented fish paste (Prahok), which can be stored for a month or so, or sometimes as bait or fertiliser,” she said.

“This led me to focus on how I could turn them into finished products that would improve the rural economy and generate an income for my family,” she added.

Initially, she faced several challenges. After joining other trainees to learn more through mobile phones, she found herself struggling due to her limited technological knowledge. 

“When I first started, I was very discouraged and almost gave up,” she admitted.

The venture also faced initial marketing hurdles.

“No one knew the benefits of fish powder,” she recalled.

Man Hayyot (third from left) receives a certificate of completion after completing a Save the Children Cambodia course. Hyfp FB

“I would go to 100 people to promote it, but they didn’t understand what fish powder was, what to do with it, or what the benefits were. I could barely sell a single jar,” she added.

However, with support from local organisations and encouragement from others, she persevered. 

“It was difficult for everyone,” she acknowledged. “But with my love for the product and my desire to improve the lives of local fishermen, I decided to continue trying.”

Beside river dace fish, the fish powder is produced from a variety of small fish, including river sparts, different species of daces, gourami fish, mud carps and betta fishes.

Each day, her business collects between 50 and 100 kilogrammes of small fish from local fishermen. The production process involves drying the fish in a safe place, roasting them until cooked, grinding them into powder, and packing them into plastic jars or bags – a process that takes only two days.

The fish powder can be easily incorporated into various dishes. It can be mixed with white rice or rice porridge, or added to dishes such as fried duck eggs, fried moringa leaves, fried climbing wattle, or Kokor soups (Cambodian mixed vegetable soup), Proheur soup (Cambodian pumpkin and green vegetable soup) and even green mango salads.

Students show off delicious and nutritious fishmeal vegetable cakes at an exhibition of Cambodian products. Hyfp FB

The powder is available in two flavours: original and sesame. Each 100g jar retails for 14,000 riel ($3.50).

In addition to powder, Hayyot’s business also produces fish floss and fish paste cakes, which are available in three flavours: original, pepper and tom yam.

Her family now head a community, with four women involved in the business across Battambang province.

She also has a network of family members in four provinces –  Battambang, Banteay Meanchey, Siem Reap and Pursat – to assist with distribution.

 “In the future, I plan to export my three products to multiple countries, including Indonesia, Malaysia and China,” added Hayyot.

With her dedication and drive, it would be a mistake to bet against her.