MI ORGANIZES TRAINING ON SOLAR PUMPS FOR SMALLHOLDER FARMERS IN CAMBODIA

Sustainable Energy and Environment

To enhance knowledge of smart renewable energy technologies for agricultural supply chains and increase the adoption of appropriate technologies, Mekong Institute (MI) organized a one-day training session on solar pumps for smallholder farmers in Cambodia on January 10, 2023. This online course was part of the “Sustainable and Smart Agricultural Supply Chain Development in Mekong Countries” project funded by the Mekong-Korea Cooperation Fund (MKCF).

The one-day training was a follow-up to the course on “Smart Renewable Energy Technologies for Agricultural Supply Chains in the Mekong Region” which was held from November 21-25, 2022. Six technologies were introduced during the course, and the participants from each country were asked to select a technology they would like to focus on for their action plans.

The World Bank reports that 80 percent of the world’s poor would benefit from improved agriculture because it can reduce poverty and improve food security — solar-powered water pumps provide a solution. These pumps improve food security, increase community wellness, and reduce poverty,

said Assoc. Prof. Dr. Krailert Taweekul from the Agricultural Extension and System Approaches in Agriculture Program, Faculty of Agriculture, Khon Kaen University, the resource person, in his presentation. 

A solar water pump system is an electrical pump system in which the electricity is generated by one or several PhotoVoltaic (PV) panels. Currently, Thailand has a high proportion of farmers who rely on solar pump systems. Using electricity from solar energy, farmers can reduce production costs and increase their profits,

added the professor.  

Although this training is mainly designed for Cambodian participants, smallholders from Lao PDR, Myanmar, Viet Nam and Thailand also joined the discussion.

At the end of the training, it is expected that more renewable energy technology will be adopted, which will significantly contribute to reducing energy consumption and developing efficient agricultural supply chains in the Mekong countries.

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Mrs. Guohua Liu

Director, Sustainable Energy & Environment (SEE) Department

Mrs. Liu Guohua is the Director of the Sustainable Energy and Environment Department at the Mekong Institute. Prior to this role, she worked in the Department of International Economic Affairs at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China, where she played a key role in shaping and implementing China’s cooperation strategies with UN development agencies. During this time, Mrs. Liu was actively involved in advancing initiatives related to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), with a focus on climate change and green development. Additionally, she contributed to the evaluation of projects funded by various Chinese initiatives, such as the Global Development and South-South Cooperation Fund, Lancang-Mekong Cooperation Special Fund, etc.

In addition to her work in the Department of International Economic Affairs, Mrs. Liu has an extensive diplomatic background. She spent 7 years in the Department of African Affairs, followed by a 4-year tenure at the Chinese Embassy in Lao PDR, where she gained deep expertise in both Southeast Asian and African affairs. These diverse experiences have played a crucial role in shaping her approach to sustainable development and international collaboration, particularly in building regional partnerships and tackling global challenges like climate change.

She holds a Master’s degree in Economics, with a specialization in Finance, from the Central University of Finance and Economics, and a Bachelor’s degree in Economics, specializing in International Economics and Trade, from the Shanghai University of International Business and Economics.