Here is a farmer who launched on a new challenge on his own.
"In the beginning, I've failed again and again," says 32 year-old, Mr. Sophat, a committed farmer who lives in Kampong Chhnang Province with his wife and two children. Since he first attended the training provided by FIDR in 2012, he has not only been following the System of Rice Intensification (SRI) method and raised poultry and hog, but also been actively sharing his experiences with the other farmers to disseminate such techniques.

Recently, we were amazed at his accomplishment; he designed and created an artificial incubator for himself!

"No one in the village was hatching chicks artificially then. If you want chicks, you had to wait them to be hatched naturally, or go all the way to the market to get them. Naturally I thought that, if I succeeded in hatching of many chicks simultaneously, it would surely afford me an opportunity of business."

Mr. Sophat thus determined to attempt the artificial incubation. Two years ago, FIDR organized the study tour, and he joined and visited the farmers in neighboring district to see how artificial chick hatching had been carried out there. Then, last year, through the technical training on artificial incubation which FIDR conducted in response to a strong request of the farmers, he learned the process of poultry hatching.

Then, Mr. Sophat has set out for creation. At first, his attempt kept failing, with difficulty of controlling temperature and humidity inside the incubator. At one time, more than the half of the eggs did not hatch. During such process, FIDR staff always encouraged him.

Mr. Sophat hanged tough. He ceaselessly observed the condition of eggs and continuously modified system of temperature and humidity regulatory; a year after, he finally created the incubator!

Presently, Mr. Sophat hatches 200 chicks a month with his incubator. The sale in the village generates approximately 200 USD per month. In the meanwhile, as his incubator gained local popularity, he now takes several make-to-orders each month, at price of 150 ? 350 USD per apparatus.

We, FIDR, have been supporting the farmers to make their life better on their own. And his effort has brought hope to all of us.

"Though I had many failures, I've never given up because I saw the chance to improve the life of family and community in creation of the incubator."

His words encouraged the FIDR staff.