Bunthoeurn planted cashew trees 7 years ago on a 0.25-hectare plot of land that she has owned for almost 20 years now. “The grass could barely grow on this soil, it was very infertile,” explained Bunthoeurn when asked about the soil condition before adopting cover cropping. She added “The productivity was very low.”

Poor soil quality is among pressing challenges affecting local farmer livelihood like Bunthoeurn’s. 
Photo: Vearyda Oeu, ASSET Project, 2023.

As a sole breadwinner to the family of six, she tried her best to maximize income by cultivating other crops such as waxy corn or soybean in between the cashew trees. “Per year, I earned about 100,000 Khmer Riel [around 25 USD] from the cashew nut sale, and an additional of 200,000 Khmer Riel [around 50 USD] from the corn or soybean. It was not much at all,” she complained about the income she could generate from her land.

Her top priority was to find a way to increase soil fertility with the least investment. “I only wanted to improve my soil fertility, and I learn this Stylo can grow well on poor soil, generate extra money, and give nutrients to the soil; therefore, it’s an obvious option for me to try. When the soil gets fertile, I can cultivate other cash crops.”

Stylo is intercropped with cashew trees to rebuild soil health. 
Photo: Vearyda Oeu, ASSET Project, 2023.

Stylosanthes guianensis, commonly known as "Stylo", is a remarkable plant species that offers a range of benefits, both in terms of its characteristics and its impact on the environment and economy. One of its standout features is its ability to fix nitrogen from the atmosphere into the soil through a symbiotic relationship with nitrogen-fixing bacteria. This trait makes Stylo an excellent companion plant in the upland based farming systems, as it enhances soil fertility and reduces the need for synthetic or organic nitrogen fertilizers. Additionally, the deep root systems help prevent soil erosion and retain soil water holding capacity, making it a valuable asset in sustainable farming practices. 

Last year, Bunthoeurn and other villagers found out the benefits of cover crops during different trainings carried out as a part of ASSET Project promotional activities. “I participated in a few trainings to learn that this Stylo cover crop has a very deep root to penetrate the hardest of soil. Even though I still have some doubts, I know I must give it a try and see the result by myself,” Bunthoeurn added.

After switching to Stylo, she earned 130$ from selling the cover crop seeds last year. Bunthoeurn sells her Stylo seed to Preah Vihear Meanchey Union of Agricultural Cooperative (PMUAC), a key player in supporting local organic rice farmers and other safe food value chains. 

It is rather early for her to be sure that this cover crop will sustain her family income in the future, yet Bunthoeurn is in for the long term. “Cultivating Stylo is a much easier task. I just need to sow the seed once and continue to harvest the Stylo grains for several years, without having to spend more money and take care of the plant,” she expressed the ease of growing Stylo. “The Stylo is also growing better than the last year, so I expect to get more yield.”

Once the Stylo seeds are collected, the remaining Stylo residue can be used as compost and mulch. At a small garden behind her house, Buthoeurn uses the Stylo residue as the fertilizer for a wide variety of vegetable such as eggplant, long bean, and cucumber. She is proud that the products from her garden is safe for all consumers in her community.

Bunthoeurn uses Stylo residue as the fertilizer for her vegetable garden. 
Photo: Vearyda Oeu, ASSET Project, 2023.

In Rovieng where many farmers have no access to or simply cannot afford to buy fertilizers from market, cover crops play a significant role in ensuring the sustainable farming systems. Small holder farmers like Bunthoeurn can regenerate soil health with a very small investment, earn extra income, and become a contributor in the transition journey of agroecology. By leveraging the power of nature, they have not only improved their livelihoods but also become caretakers of the land, fostering a harmonious relationship between farming and the environment.