Provision

Providing for the future without being on the dole! That is the entire reason for our 'Cambodian Rice Production Enterprise'. FCOP is doing something that has not been done in Cambodia before. It requires developing a lot of creative solutions as we go. We pray, innovate, create, and move! Why? FCOP is not sustainable on the current path. The gradual reduction of foreign financial support for the homes and ministry due to inflation, donor attrition and a lack of new donors, has put us in a death spiral. Operation costs are $200,000.00/month, or 2.5 million per year and giving is going down. The rice farm is the solution to the financial needs. Ted and Paul Mok, the rice farm manager, are confident that with proper water control the rice project will produce the needed finances to keep FCOP afloat. Rice prices have increased from one year ago, and due to timely rains this year, a decent harvest is close. Paul Mok has put together an expert team who know rice cultivation, can operate the farm machinery and heavy equipment to level the land and build the dikes and reservoirs. A very large amount of labor is still ahead, including construction of a 4-5 km road and 20 km of dikes and canals. The completion of the work will take 2-3 years."We are not there yet, but we do see a light at the end of the tunnel,” says Ted. The Rice Farm, when completed, will consist of 1000 cultivated acres (400 hectares) which can produce 3 crops per year, with rice yields of 7 tons per hectare. Foreign help is still urgently needed to complete this project. Eventually FCOP would like to export it's own "Jasmine Rice". Ted has also met with the Chairman of the Cambodia Rice Production Board who is very friendly and favorable about the project.

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