The project aims to spur production of high-demand fish species for the domestic market and build a resilient aquaculture industry in the Kingdom. POST STAFF
The Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, Veng Sakhon on October 3 lauded the “success” of western Kampong Cham province-based Thoeun Srey Ny aquaculture and fisheries processing business, which operates under the auspices of the Commercialisation of Aquaculture for Sustainable Trade- (Cast) Cambodia.
Cast-Cambodia is a five-year programme for 2019-2023 backed by a $17.1 million grant from the US Department of Agriculture. The project aims to spur production of high-demand fish species for the domestic market and build a resilient aquaculture industry in the Kingdom.
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The minister took to Facebook to congratulate Lim Ponny for her relative success at the helm of Thoeun Srey Ny – based in Chhor Thmei village in southeastern Cheung Prey district’s Soutip commune, just a few kilometres south of Skun Market which is known for fried spiders.
"These new achievements stem from good cooperation between the US Department of Agriculture and the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries of the Kingdom of Cambodia, with the US embassy in Cambodia and the Fisheries Administration as project implementation coordinators," he said.
Sakhon shared a video published by Business Cambodia earlier that day, which showed the inner workings of Thoeun Srey Ny, where Ponny shared that from 500kg to more than a tonne of various freshwater fish species are processed each day, much of which is seasoned and dried into the familiar “trei ngiet” prominently featured in Cambodian cuisine.
Ponny told The Post on October 3 that she had been in the business for more than 10 years, starting initially with one fish pond, before setting up three more and installing a processing facility.
She said Thoeun Srey Ny began life as a family business, but has enjoyed sustained growth over the last two-to-three years, underpinned by technical and financial support from the ministry and Cast-Cambodia.
"After receiving support from the ministry and the Cast-Cambodia programme, my business has gradually expanded, now we have about 15 full-time workers," she said, revealing that she is working on the documents required to export her products.
