News : Shanty Town helps to promote aquaponics kōyaproject ~ Shanty Town Spirit Ermine Norodom Association

This week, Princess Ermine Norodom, HRH Norodom Naravong, and HRH Norodom Narithipong paid a visit to Prek Pra school in the outskirts of Phnom Penh. There, Michael Hensel and Tamie Tran, from the kōyaproject, show the work that's been done to implement the first pilot Aquaponics unit. This pilot project is the first step towards a more ambitious operation aiming at developing this kind of small scale farms around the kingdom.

Visiting the first aquaponics small farm in Cambodia. Photo Christophe Gargiulo

The kōyaproject plans to build a less starving world a by working with local and international aquaponics experts to build small and inexpensive aquaponics systems in schools worldwide.

First kōyaproject aquaponics small farm in Cambodia. Photo Christophe Gargiulo

Aquaponics is a system that combines conventional aquaculture (raising fish, crayfish or prawns in tanks) with hydroponics in a symbiotic environment. In traditional aquaculture, excretions from the animals being raised can accumulate in the water and increase toxicity.

Aquaponics combines conventional aquaculture with hydroponics. Photo Christophe Gargiulo

Chan Dara Kahn, lead teacher and advisor, explains the system to Princess Ermine Norodom. Photo Christophe Gargiulo

In an aquaponic system, water from an aquaculture system is fed to a hydroponic system where the by-products are broken down by Nitrifying bacteria into nitrates, which are utilized by the plants as nutrients, and the water is then recirculated back to the aquaculture system.