In Cambodia's Kampong Chhnang Province, a smart greenhouse is changing how local farmers grow vegetables – and how they earn a living.
Once dependent on the weather, farmers can now control shading and precision irrigation systems, reducing the vegetable-growing cycle from two to three months to just one month. A local processing factory has approached the farmers to discuss long-term supply partnerships.
The project, supported by China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, has directly involved 30 farming households in smart agriculture. Each household is expected to increase its annual income by more than 3,000 yuan ($420), while the village's overall poverty rate is projected to fall by 1 to 2 percentage points, according to the Lancang-Mekong Cooperation China Secretariat.
The project illustrates how development cooperation can translate into tangible benefits for local communities. It also offers a glimpse of the ambition behind China's Global Development Initiative (GDI), which marks its fifth anniversary this year: promoting shared development globally through practical cooperation.