From Migration to Stability: The story of Hem Hean

Hem Hean is a 35-year-old farmer from Koh Pnov village, O’Svay commune, Borey O’Svay district in Stung Treng province. He lives with his wife, their young son and his brother-in-law. Today, Hem Hean supports his family through chicken farming at home, a livelihood that has transformed both his income and family life.

Hem Hean first learned about the project in 2021, when project staff and a local co-researcher visited Koh Pnov village. Through household visits, informal conversations, and community meetings, the project introduced discussions on livelihoods and community development. Encouraged by both the co-researcher and project staff, Hem Hean decided to join the project and participated in technical trainings on vegetable farming, frog raising, and chicken farming. He also attended financial literacy sessions and awareness activities on community-led development.

Before joining the project, Hem Hean paid little attention to earning a livelihood within his village. He relied on labor work far from home, often spending long periods away from his wife and child. At the time, he raised chickens in a traditional way, letting them roam freely without proper techniques or care. Losses were common, but he did not see chicken farming as important or reliable. He also lacked confidence and rarely spoke up or shared ideas with others.

This situation began to change after Hem Hean joined the PNKS trainings. Through the project, he gained practical knowledge and techniques in chicken farming that helped reduce losses and improve productivity. He also received essential materials and 10 chicken breeds, eight hens and two roosters, to restart his farming properly.

Since then, Hem Hean has raised a total of 370 chickens. In the past year, he earned approximately 4,500,000 riel (about USD 1,120) from selling 300 kilograms of chicken. With this stable income, he no longer needs to travel far for labor work. Chicken farming has become sufficient to support his household and allows him to stay close to his family.

Beyond improved income, Hem Hean has gained confidence. He now shares his knowledge and experience with other poor farmers in his village and even distributes chicken breeds to support them. He has also adapted his farming practices to better cope with climate change, helping to keep his chickens healthier and reduce disease.

Looking ahead, Hem Hean hopes to see continued development in his community, including reduced migration for work, well-organized producer groups among chicken farmers, improved infrastructure such as a bridge connecting Koh Pnov village to O’Svay commune, access to electricity for all households, and a clear local marketplace where villagers can sell their products.

Today, Hem Hean feels proud and hopeful. The support fromPNKS has not only strengthened his livelihood but also empowered him to support others in his community. Most importantly, he finds happiness in being able to work from home, care for his family, and contribute to the future of Koh Pnov village.