In the lush rice paddies of Cambodia’s Takeo province, an unusual scene unfolds: drones hum overhead, dispensing feed to giant river prawns thriving amid the rice stalks. This is no gimmick but the latest chapter in a collaboration between Shanghai Ocean University and local farmers, a project blending tradition with technology to enhance food security and nutrition in a nation heavily reliant on agriculture. Since 2021, under the Asian Cooperation Fund initiative “Rice-Fish Technology Cooperation and Aquaculture Poverty Alleviation in Lancang-Mekong Countries,” rice-fish farming has spread across 43.5 hectares, engaging 39 farmers.

Last year, the introduction of drones to distribute prawn feed marked a leap forward, a move Wu Xugan, the project’s lead professor from Shanghai Ocean University, hopes will entice more farmers to join. “We hope through the demonstration, the project will attract more Cambodian farmers to join in, ensuring food security and improving local residents’ nutritional well-being,” he said. Now in its fourth year, with a three-year renewal secured in 2024, the initiative emphasizes freshwater prawn, silver barb, and common carp farming, bolstered by technical demonstrations and training.

Overcoming Challenges with Innovation

Yet the path has not been without obstacles. Seasonal constraints, patchy infrastructure, and farmers’ limited technical know-how threaten progress. The team has countered these with practical solutions: technical manuals in Khmer detail rice-fish symbiosis and prawn cultivation, while regular training sessions build local expertise. Wu’s team has tailored breeding techniques to Cambodia’s climate, lifting giant river prawn seedling survival rates from 40 percent to over 70 percent—a feat he credits to over a year of refining methods at a nursery in Kampong Chhnang province.

Technology plays a starring role. Oxygenation equipment, water quality monitors, and automated feeders have cut labor and boosted efficiency, while drones—piloted under the guidance of associate professor Chen Leilei and Li Jun—ensure precise feeding. “With the digital fishing equipment and seedling rearing techniques brought by Chinese experts, the survival rate of intermediate-sized giant river prawns reached 78 percent last year,” noted farmer Chhea Chorn, whose farm serves as a demonstration hub. Such innovations have stabilized local seedling supplies, fueling confidence in the industry.

Empowering Local Farmers

Beyond gadgets, the project’s heart lies in its human impact. Chorn, now mentoring five apprentices, embodies this shift. “We are all on the path to prosperity,” he said, beaming after a recent livestream training session. As it ended, translator He Zizhen conveyed the farmers’ gratitude—and their playful promise of durian and mango feasts for Wu’s May visit. These sessions, blending virtual instruction with on-the-ground practice, underscore a commitment to capacity building.

Wu sees a broader vision: a “fish and rice corridor” linking China and Cambodia, accelerating agricultural modernization and lifting rural incomes. “With Cambodia boasting vast rice cultivation areas but limited freshwater pond space, there is immense potential for collaboration,” he said. The project’s success in fostering local expertise and sustainable practices offers a blueprint for transforming traditional farming, one paddy at a time.

Looking Ahead: Expanding the ‘Fish and Rice Corridor’

The future beckons with ambition. Wu’s team plans to establish 10 new demonstration farms this year, nurturing a cadre of “new farmers” equipped with modern skills. The goal is clear: shift Cambodia from traditional fishing to eco-friendly aquaculture infused with Chinese expertise. “We aim to cultivate more new farmers abroad and expand joint projects to promote sustainable farming, talent development, and technical demonstration,” Wu said, eyeing a scalable model for other developing nations.

Cambodia’s agricultural evolution remains a work in progress, but this collaboration hints at what’s achievable when innovation meets necessity. With vast rice fields as its canvas and technology as its brush, the “fish and rice corridor” could redraw the contours of rural prosperity—if sustained effort and investment hold firm.