Sisters in Business: How a Women Fisheries Processing Group Is Helping Build Gender Equality

Years ago, as a young woman, Ms. Bun Vang learned from her mother the secrets of crafting culinary delights from the products of the sea. Later, her mother-in-law shared her own recipes and cooking style.

Then, in the Peam Krosoab Community in Kok Kong, it became Ms. Bun Vang's turn to continue the tradition, adding her own special ingredients. She started a family enterprise of dried shrimp processing. 

In time, with skills learned from experiences in Thailand and multiple training sessions, Ms. Bun Vang transformed her family's modest endeavour into a thriving dried shrimp business. With the aim to empower the women in her community, she founded the Peam Krosoab Women Fisheries Processing Group in 2014.

The reasons for the group were various. Many women in the community solely relied on their husbands' fishing income, facing financial challenges that sometimes led to domestic violence. Ms. Bun Vang envisioned the group as a means to create income-generating opportunities, enhance livelihoods, and build self-reliance for women.

The group, consisting of nine dedicated members, has become key in shaping the community's economic landscape. Each member plays a crucial role in the processing chain, from washing and boiling to packaging and marketing. Their main products—dried shrimp, dried squid, and shrimp paste—are crafted with precision and reflect the unique qualities of the local shrimp.

Ms. Bun Vang's commitment to learning and improvement led the group to secure technical and financial support from various institutions. With guidance from the CAPFISH-Capture: Post-harvest Fisheries Development project, the group received training in business management, digital marketing, and food safety. 

"Women are often burdened with household chores, but it's important that we make time to learn new skills and stay up-to-date with new technology, which is crucial for the growth of our businesses," says Ms. Bun Vang.

Co-funded by the European Union (EU), the project is implemented by the United Nations Industrial Development (UNIDO) and Cambodia's Fisheries Administration (FiA); its financial support helped them acquire a solar dryer dome, making the business more efficient at processing dried shrimp.

The CAPFISH-Capture project actively promotes gender equality by integrating it into the project's activities and empowering women throughout the post-harvest fisheries value chain.

The impact of the Peam Krosoab Women Fisheries Processing Group extends beyond economic empowerment. By creating jobs for seven families, the group has elevated the community's confidence and reduced instances of domestic violence. Members can now access finance through savings groups, ensuring better education for their children and improved household conditions. Harnessing the collective power of women working together in networks and supporting one another could serve as a transformative force, tackling these gender inequalities and unlocking significant benefits across the entire value chain.

Ms. Bun Vang acknowledges that the journey is ongoing. Even as the group faces challenges such as raw material shortages due to unfavourable weather conditions, Ms. Bun Vang remains optimistic. She believes in the unity and resilience of the group.  

"As women," she adds, "we should have our own businesses to create our own source of income, build self-reliance, and improve decision-making in the family."