In a land of bountiful produce, Cambodian rural communities enjoy the luxury of farm-fresh vegetables, fruits, fish and meat.
Yet, smallholding farmers often struggle to find a common marketplace for their produce, whereas urban dwellers crave these local products but with no direct source from which to buy.
Witnessing this disconnect, traders like Ung Or Rom have turned to sourcing local agricultural products, creating a conduit between rural farmers and urban consumers.
Or Rom, the proprietor of Srok Sre, a shop specialising in natural, rural produce, aims to fill this gap. The shop offers vegetables, fish, meat and some processed foods — all harvested or created within Cambodian provinces.
Or Rom prides his business on the quality, safety and affordability of these items.
“We initiated this business to link provincial farmers, who often struggle to sell their surplus produce, with city dwellers struggling to source safe, local foodstuffs,” he said.
“As a former organisation employee overseeing markets, I consistently heard farmers’ pleas for assistance in finding markets for their produce. Meanwhile, Phnom Penh residents prefer to consume Khmer products, particularly fresh vegetables”.
“Cambodia is rich in resources, but our farmers do not know how to find a market yet,” he added.
As an alumnus of the Royal University of Agriculture (RUA), majoring in agriculture and rural development, Or Rom identified the unmet market demand for local products.
Thus, in late 2017, he launched Srok Sre, or countryside in Khmer, to bridge this gap, ensuring quality, safety and fair prices for both farmers and customers.
Srok Sre provides a diverse range of products including vegetables, fruit, fish, meat and processed foods such as pickled mustard, dried and salted meats, sausages, meatballs and sauces.
Srok Sre’s products are sourced from various provinces including Mondulkiri, Kampong Cham, Takeo and Kratie, with each region well known among Cambodian people for its distinct seasonal offerings.
However, establishing the business was not without hurdles. Or Rom faced financial challenges, including initial investment in procuring produce from provincial farmers, shipping costs, setting up the shop and earning customer trust.
Yet, despite these early issues, Or Rom remained resolute. He learned from the challenges, continually striving to fulfil his business’s fundamental purpose of aiding local farming communities find a lucrative marketplace for their produce.
As Srok Sre flourishes, Or Rom looks forward to the future with ambitious plans. He hopes to scale up his venture to accommodate a greater volume of agricultural products, discover a broader market, and further improve the livelihoods of local communities.
