Enhancing Promoting Sustainable Agriculture in Cambodia through partnership with ASMC

The ASMC project in Cambodia focused on assessing the performance of Appropriate Scale Machinery (ASM) for rice production and fodder diversification. Key objectives included improving the affordability, practicality, efficiency, and labour-saving aspects of ASM, and training smallholders, service providers, and students in its use. The project aimed to apply transformative technologies from conventional agriculture to conservation agriculture to sustainably increase food production and household incomes.

In 2023, Swisscontact Cambodia delivered implemented several key activities and fostered multi-stakeholder collaboration. These efforts acitivities promoted and facilitated the adoption of various technologies, such as no-till planters, seed broadcasters, and cover crops. For example: Larano Manufacturer and Importer successfully sold 13 units of no-till planters since 2021, promoting conservation agriculture practices. Noeurn Workshop significantly increased the production of seed broadcasters from 20 to 100 units annually per year after partnering with Swisscontact under ASMC Phase II. AdditionallyIn addition, SmartAgro Sustainable Innovation Co., LTD received continued further support to become a distributor for of cover crops, enhancing improving market access and fostering innovation.

Swisscontact also organiszed 30 promotional events, demand creation meetings, and field showcases and demonstrations to promote events, fostering knowledge exchange sharing and collaboration among variousbetween different sectors. These activities attracted 680 producers, 89 government officials, 61 private sector participants, and 260 civil society members, indicating widespread interest and participation in the adopting adoption of conservation agriculture practices. The utilization use of the Metkasekor extension model enabled the testing and scaling up of four technologies: no-till planter, land leveler, seed broadcaster, and cover crop, contributing to the advancement of sustainable agricultural practices in Cambodia.

Swisscontact's capacity-building efforts, such as short-term training courses and field days, enhanced improved the skills and knowledge of stakeholders, operators, and smallholder farmers, empowering enabling them to effectively implement conservation agriculture techniques effectively. The organization organisation focused on the commercialization pathwaycommercialisation pathway for various agricultural implements by establishing three private sector partnerships: Larano Manufacturer and Importer for the no-till planter and land leveler, Noeurn Workshop for the seed broadcaster, and SmartAgro Sustainable Innovation Co., LTD for the cover crop. These partnerships addressed specific agricultural challenges through tailored interventions, ensuring the suitability, scalability, and sustainability of the introduced technologies introduced.

The ASMC project concluded ended in 2023 with significant achievements in promoting sustainable agricultural practices and mechaniszation in Cambodia. Swisscontact  Cambodia is glad pleased to be part of this success, which in showcasing demonstrates the importance of collaborative efforts in transforming agriculture and improving the livelihoods of smallholder farmers.