Outgrower: Meet Salat and Chor

Lorm Salat, who left school after Grade 2 to support her family, and her husband Chor, left wheelchair-bound after a construction accident, faced severe financial hardship in Phnom Dei village near Siem Reap, surviving on just US$120 per month through small repairs and scavenging. Salat and Chor were the very first outgrower farmers on Dana Asia’s Outgrower program, receiving a US$2,900 loan to launch their small-scale poultry business with an adapted shed to accommodate Chor’s disability. Raising chickens in 90-day cycles, their household income increased by 38%, with an average 82% survival rate, providing more stable finances and food security. Salat and Chor continue to expand their savings and ensure their children’s education, while their adapted shed demonstrates how social enterprises can be inclusive of persons with disabilities.