THE Laguna-based Southeast Asian Regional Center for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA), in partnership with the Center of Excellence on Sustainable Agricultural Intensification and Nutrition (CE SAIN), recently evaluated the School-plus-Home Gardens cum Biodiversity Enhancement and Enterprise (SHGBEE) Project in Cambodia.
A comprehensive baseline study to support the implementation of the said SHGBEE Project, the study marks a critical step toward understanding the current conditions of selected pilot sites and generating evidence-based insights to guide the project's strategic direction.
This partnership between SEARCA and CE SAIN in conducting the study is aimed at boosting sustainable agriculture and nutrition in key Cambodian schools.
The key pilot locations include Raksmey Sophanna High School and Samdech Euv High School, where site visits were conducted to document garden features, crop varieties, irrigation infrastructure, and composting practices, as well as the adoption of agricultural technologies.
For the Institute of Community Development and Chea Sim Tbeng Meanchey, data collection will be completed through online surveys, ensuring inclusivity amid logistical challenges.
According to SEARCA, the assessment includes in-depth Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices (KAP) surveys with students, providing a baseline of their awareness and participation in vegetable production and healthy dietary practices.
It said that household-level surveys with parents further enrich the study, focusing on food expenditures, dietary diversity, food security, and resilience practices, using recognized indicators such as the Food Insecurity Experience Scale or FIES.
These combined insights will drive targeted interventions to enhance nutrition-sensitive and climate-resilient strategies at the school and community levels.
SEARCA said the SHGBEE Cambodia Project aims to "strengthen food and nutrition security while building local capacity in sustainable agriculture and biodiversity enhancement."