Agriculture continues to dominate the Cambodian economy, accounting for 37% of GDP and representing the largest source of employment of the rural labour force (65%). Poverty remains largely a rural phenomenon, as 90% of the poor (2.5 million people) live in rural areas and more than 40% suffer from food insecurity. Most Cambodian farmers are smallholders with less than two hectares per household. Cambodian smallholder agriculture substantially relies on female farmers. Women's contribution to food production is about 65% of agricultural labour. However, they face greater constraints in accessing productive resources than men. Currently, approximately 90% of fresh fruits and vegetables consumed in Cambodia are imported from Thailand and Vietnam. Fast economic growth has resulted in more demand for safe local fruits and vegetables, which constitutes new market opportunities also to previously isolated farming communities and female homesteads due to improvements in rural infrastructure. The four provinces, Kratié, Stung Treng, Preah Vihear and Oddar Manchey have high poverty rates and also the highest prevalence of food insecurity in Cambodia.

Increase income and food security of smallholder farmers’ households in targeted rural areas in Cambodia.

Three different target groups have to be distinguished in the first phase:

1000 Commercial farmers (50% women)

5000 Homestead Farmers (95% women and 10% ethnic minorities)

200 Processors (80% women and 10% ethnic minorities)

Outreach to other groups:

Additionally the initiative will have an outreach on the private and public sector actors as well as on local and international organisations intervening in the project zones and at national level.

Outcome 1: Commercial and homestead producers and processors  (male and female-headed households) increase productivity by adapting improved technologies

Outcome 2: Farmers’ groups (FGs) and processors’ groups provide demand-oriented services and facilitate transparent and fair market engagement.

Outcome 3: Public and private sector actors deliver demand-driven, gender-sensitive and accountable advisory services.

Expected results:  

1. Sustainable women friendly homestead model for improved production for household consumption and surplus for markets introduced.
2. Improved sustainable and market-oriented production technologies for commercial farmers introduced.
3. Household level fruit or vegetable processing (inclusive) business model introduced.
4. Farmers and processors organising themselves for collective action facilitated.
5. Leadership and governance mechanisms of, and service delivery by, farmers’ groups promoted.
6. Partnership with public and private sector for demand-driven, gender inclusive and accountable services (inputs, advisory, and access to credit) established.
7. Public-private partnership mechanisms for inclusive service delivery
8. Contributions to policy development on (bio) pesticides and other applicable technologies made.
9. Extension services strengthened on sustainable technologies for production, post-harvest, processing.

Results from previous phases:  

CHAIN is a new project; it builds upon a series of comprehensive studies and assessments and close consultation with key stakeholders and target groups.

MAFF (Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries) MoC (Ministry of Commerce), MoWA (Ministry of Women’s Affairs)

CHAIN provides a strong synergy with the existing projects supported by IFAD, GIZ, FAO, IDE (International Development Enterprises) in the same areas. In addition, it is adding value and providing strong synergies with the projects in preparation in the Cambodia program: Contribution to Community Forestry and Fisheries, to scaling up regional economic development with GIZ, and on skills development.

Phase 1 01.06.2013 - 30.06.2018   (Completed)