The Author

My name is Chea Takihiro, a farmer and the founder of the Senmonorom Organic Farm (SMR Organic Farm) project in Mondulkiri Province. Our farm project began step-by-step in 2018 and continues to grow today. Rooted in natural farming principles, our initiative focuses on highland crops such as coffee, avocado, and cacao. Beyond researching the specific challenges associated with these crops, our project provides advisory support to local farmers, helping them resolve field issues using natural farming methods. We also welcome volunteers from around the globe to gain hands-on experience, support farm operations, and learn the fundamentals of natural agriculture. I created this website to share news about our farm project, pass along my practical experiences, and publish my agricultural research.

I would like to express my deepest gratitude to my farm management team for allowing me the time to teach free English classes to local students in Senmonorom City since 2022. Special thanks also go to the founder of the korekiri School project for offering free English education to students in general, and particularly to the children of the indigenous Bunong community. The school is located within Lao Ka Primary School, Sokdom Sangkat, Senmonorom City.

Education & Background

Bachelor’s Degree (2015): Graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in International Relations from Khemarak University. During my university years, I was fortunate to be accepted into the Nou Hach Literary Association, where I completed multiple training modules in creative writing techniques and fundamental composition skills.
Journalism Experience: Building on my writing skills, I completed professional journalism training with Radio Free Asia (RFA). This followed my work as a journalist for Voice of Youth (VOY) radio and the Khmer Times newspaper during my third and fourth years of university. Working in journalism allowed me to connect with people from all walks of life and travel extensively across Cambodia’s provinces. Visiting rural areas brought a deep sense of peace—watching endless rice fields, observing farmers at work, and riding my motorcycle to chase sunsets behind the mountains. It was during these journeys that my dream of having a rural home and farm took root.
Agricultural Scholarship (2016): I decided to step back from journalism after receiving a natural agriculture scholarship from the Cambodian Center for Study and Development in Agriculture (CEDAC). I am profoundly grateful to CEDAC for selecting me to study and practice directly in their year-long “Farm Management and Natural Agriculture” program at Green Sprouts Farm in Takeo Province. I also owe my thanks to the senior mentors specializing in livestock, vegetables, and general crops who generously taught and shared their practical wisdom with me.

In 2017, I arrived in Mondulkiri Province and launched a farm project to practice and research general highland crops, while also working part-time for CEDAC to train farmers in natural agriculture principles and association management. By 2018, I transitioned to serve full-time as the manager of Senmonorom Organic Farm (SMR Organic Farm), a role I hold to this day.

As mentioned earlier, I also volunteer as a teacher at the Korekiri community school. Although I had basic English skills from my journalism background, the growing number of eager students prompted me to reflect deeply on my teaching methods and student outcomes. Recognizing my lack of formal pedagogical training and feeling a strong sense of responsibility, I knew I could not continue teaching effectively without proper methodologies. This led me to actively apply for technical assistance and scholarship programs from local and international organizations to enhance my capacity.

In late 2024, I was honored to be selected by the U.S. Embassy for a scholarship under the OPEN (Online Professional English Network) Program—a global initiative aimed at empowering educators. Through OPEN, I completed professional development courses from several leading institutions:

Teaching English Academic Writing to Speakers of Other Languages (Iowa State University)
Fostering Student Motivation and Engagement (University of Oregon)
Professional Development for Teacher Trainers (Arizona State University)
Teacher Capacity Building in the Age of AI (Teach For All)

Beyond language pedagogy, I pursued courses directly aligned with my ongoing agricultural work. Completing English for Business and Entrepreneurship through the University of Pennsylvania inspired me to build this website and draft research papers on agricultural guiding—transforming our farm into an agritourism destination where visitors can experience and appreciate a farmer’s way of life.

This vision encouraged me to complete another program, English for Tourism Professionals through Ohio University. It helped me realize that beyond producing crops, a farm can serve as a tranquil sanctuary for those seeking rural relaxation and authentic farming experiences.

Out of deep gratitude for these opportunities, I volunteered as an OPEN Community Lead for six months. In this role, I created educational content for the OPEN Community of Practice, facilitating knowledge sharing, teaching techniques, and educational discussions with fellow educators from around the world.

The Farmer Journal is a page dedicated to stories related to agriculture, along with summarized research drawn from reports by international institutions. It is a place where I share what I have studied and read, weaving these insights into simple narratives that I try to write in an accessible way.

The stories you read here are the result of my efforts outside of my daily work on the farm and my teaching responsibilities. I acknowledge openly that my articles may contain gaps or points that need improvement. I warmly welcome and appreciate feedback or suggestions for corrections.

Please feel free to contact me directly at: takihiro455@gmail.com