Over 600 new houses have gone up in Ta Kien Beton village in Preah Vihear province, complete with electricity, water, a school, and a health center. For families who couldn't return to their original homes due to past border conflicts, this new settlement finally gives them a place to put down roots. But while housing is sorted, livelihoods are a huge headache because the village lacks any real local industry.
At a recent meeting, local officials pointed out that about half the families in the village have to leave home to find work in other provinces just to survive. Some harvest cassava for others, some take on odd jobs, and some brave the forest to harvest rattan and other forest products to make ends meet. Even though the government has paved the roads, people have empty pockets, and everyone knows this isn't a long-term solution.
To help these 500 households settle down and make a real living locally, the Ministry of Agriculture, the Rural Development Bank, and the provincial government are discussing a new project: setting aside nearly 100 hectares of land to build a large integrated farming and livestock center. In the future, villagers will be able to raise cattle, pigs, chickens, and ducks, grow vegetables right on their doorstep, and pick up new farming skills along the way.
According to local officials, the plan doesn't just stop at a farm—it also includes a wholesale market to smooth out the supply chain and secure buyers. However, there is no official word yet on when construction on the 100-hectare farm will actually start or how much it will cost. Whether this project can truly give villagers peace of mind will depend entirely on what happens next.
