We were joined by Harold Rudy, brother of club member Willis Rudy. Harold provided a presentation on his 3 month contract with Cambodia as an agricultural consultant.
Cambodia is a country with a diet that depends heavily on the availability of rice, as well as potatoes and cassava. As its principle crop, over 70% of the cropped area is devoted to rice production, constituting 50% of total agricultural output. As a consequence of upgrading its farming practices, Cambodia has become a major rice exporter to South East Asia. Harold Rudy is an expert on soil conditions - the issue that has had so much influence on Cambodia's ability to increase its yields.
Although he's not a vet, Harold's trip was supported and coordinated by Vets Without Borders as part of their mission to support human and animal health through agricultural practices that produce stronger crops sustainably. Vets Without Borders spends more than 85% of funds raised on projects, such as those carried out in Cambodia.
Harold's consultation project is of interest to Rotarians because it addresses the following areas of focus:
- Save mothers and children - Harold's consultation included women working in key areas rice production, including leadership roles in the rice collectives.
- Support education - Harold's input teaches about new techniques to improve soil quality and crop intensity
- Grow local economies - input such as Harold's as contributed to a more than four-fold increase in the dollar value of each hectare of rice