From Invisible to Invaluable: The Rise of a Leader and Her Cooperative in Cambodia

It’s hard to imagine now, but there was a time when Por Mom barely spoke up in public. Today, she leads one of Cambodia’s most dynamic and rapidly growing agricultural cooperatives, Rith Chamroun Toul Ampil Agricultural Cooperative. Her story is one of courage, determination and community, mirroring the journey of the cooperative she helped build from the ground up.

Back in 2017, with support from Heifer International, the Rith Chamroun Toul Ampil Cooperative was established with just 68 members and a total shared capital of $750. Today, with Por Mom presiding as chairperson, it has grown to 956 members, including 607 women, a shared capital of $13,600 and total business assets of $49,650. The cooperative produces chicken and vegetables and spans 52 villages in the Basedth district.

“We started small,” Por Mom said, standing proudly inside the cooperative office, “but we dreamt big.”

The cooperative office now buzzes with activity. With support from Heifer, the team has secured a truck to transport goods, and members follow clear roles, responsibilities and business plans. The cooperative also leads a growing range of services that touch nearly every part of a farmer’s life, from supplying inputs and coordinating training to investing in irrigation and livestock, and connecting members with markets and buyers. Each effort is designed to strengthen the cooperative’s impact and better support its smallholder farmer members.

And they’re not slowing down. With 15 net houses already established for vegetable farming, the cooperative plans to add 31 new ones, 24 of which will be funded by the government and seven by Heifer. With co-investment from Heifer, they’ve also received hands-on training in vegetable and livestock management. Their vision is to grow to 2,500 members by 2030.

But like most good stories, this one comes with its challenges. Por Mom shared that the group often struggles with limited working capital, the absence of collection centers and rising input costs, which significantly impacts farm profitability. As input prices rise, farmers are forced to increase their sale prices to sustain earnings. The cooperative also lacks the resources to fully manage and monitor its growing list of activities — a gap that makes it harder to plan, track and scale their work effectively.

Still, she remains optimistic. “We have strong leadership, a dedicated office, transport and support from our local authorities,” she said. “That’s our strength.”

Their growing visibility has already brought big wins. One of Por Mom’s proudest moments was convincing the local government to approve the construction of a 5-kilometer paved road for the village and granting the cooperative 1 hectare of land, about 2.5 acres, for production.

“That road wasn’t just for us — it was for the whole village,” she said with a smile. “It showed that our voices mattered.”

Por Mom has more dreams for the future — expanding the office, building a collection center and, one day, partnering with banks for loans. But she’s clear: “We’re still young. We need to build the right foundation first. Loans will come later.”

Her leadership journey began with Heifer’s 12 Cornerstones for Just and Sustainable Development training, which she now imparts to other members in the community. She remembers when the local authorities didn’t take her — or the cooperative — seriously.

“We were invisible,” she said. “Now, they see what we can do.”

Today, Por Mom isn’t just leading a cooperative. She’s leading change. From invisible to invaluable, her story is proof that farmer collectives can change lives: one seed, one voice, one dream at a time.

A Global Movement for Cooperatives

Por Mom’s journey is echoed in communities around the world where people are coming together to build stronger futures through shared purpose and solidarity. This year, Heifer International is proud to stand alongside cooperative leaders worldwide and join the United Nations in celebrating the International Year of Cooperatives (IYC).

In Asia, this work is being highlighted through the Seeding Strength: Empowering Farmer Cooperatives campaign, an IYC-aligned regional collaboration with the International Cooperative Alliance Asia and Pacific, as part of the ICA-EU Partnership Program.

Through tailored support, co-investment and training, Heifer is partnering with smallholder farmers — especially women — to take ownership of their futures and lead lasting change.