When you think about planting on the water, you might expect only water convolvulus, water lily… Anyway Mr. Hel Sokeoun, 60, the new Khmer farmer technologist explains how to plant vegetables on the water such as water convolvulus, cabbages, Nonong (edible plant similar to gourd), all kinds of herbs (mint, Vansuy, Neangvong, Phes, Krosangteab…), Kanhchhet (an edible aquatic plant which grow on water)…
Before he decided to grow these, he just only grew citronellas and herbs near the pagoda fence (Pocheng Tong pagoda). But he wasn’t able to protect his plants from cows. Then he could solve the problem when he saw the pagoda pond and asked the monk to farm his crops on it (which has 250 meters length and 50 meters width). He has defeated his experiments for 5 times because he could not keep the soil to stay on the water. One day, he tested to spread Perk (floating mass of debris resembling solid ground) over the water as ridges then he put the soil on it. He succeeded with this test. So he started growing his crops by boat. However the plants no need to be watered, no chemical fertilizer, clean, healthy, and get enough sunlight that make it blooms every seasons.
If you are interested and would like to get more information from him, you can contact his mobile phone: 012 658 432 or 016 744 030.
