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Cambodia’s agriculture sector is a key driver of economic growth and poverty reduction. However, in recent decades, agricultural intensification has led to the destruction of natural assets, resulting in soil degradation and loss of fertility. Consequently, farmers are facing low and declining productivity and income. And although new agricultural technologies are available and help to improve productivity, many of these solutions are not sufficiently commercialised to reach broad numbers of farmers. Moreover, the capacities of public agricultural extension services that play an important role in raising awareness are limited and coordination among stakeholders is lacking.
The project therefore seeks to support the promotion of sustainable agriculture practices among farmers, private sector partners as well as public agencies in order to improve soil health, increase farm income and enhance climate change adaptation and mitigation in Cambodia. To achieve this goal, the project facilitates access and use of agricultural inputs such as machinery, cover crop seeds and extension services for a sustainable intensification of agricultural production for at least 12 000 smallholder farmers (40% women).
This will be achieved by supporting established public and private actors to raise awareness on sustainable intensification practices and provide appropriate technologies and services to farmers. Furthermore, the project facilitates capacity building and technical support to the government at national and local level to establish a public-private agricultural extension model. In addition, companies which produce and/or sell sustainable agricultural technologies will be supported to develop and expand their business activities through business development and marketing support.
To incentivise farmers to adopt sustainable practices, the project also seeks to develop innovative monetisation models, such as a reward system, for those transitioning from conventional to sustainable practices.
In its second phase the project continues to promote appropriate technologies and extension services for a sustainable agricultural production. This leads to an improved soil health that allows smallholder farmers to increase their productivity and income. Private sector actors providing agricultural products and services such as seeds and machinery are supported in establishing self-sustaining business models in order to increase farmer’s access to farm inputs. Improved coordination among public and private sector actors will lead to stronger collaboration, supporting the implementation of the Cambodia’s roadmap for conservation agriculture and sustainable intensification.
This project is part of the Swisscontact Development Programme, which is co-financed by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC), Federal Department of Foreign Affairs FDFA.