Background
On 13 February 2023, the Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, Dith Tina, met with Jyotsana Varma, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) Country Director for Cambodia, at the Ministry’s headquarters. The discussion focused on the existing cooperation framework between the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF) and ADB in support of Cambodia’s agricultural development in line with national policy.
Cooperation Portfolio
According to the Ministry, MAFF and ADB are implementing a set of Investment Projects and Pipeline Projects in the agriculture sector funded by ADB. At the time of the meeting, there were five ongoing ADB-funded Investment Projects and five Pipeline Projects with MAFF. Additionally, four Investment Projects and ten Technical Assistance projects had been completed under this cooperation.
Under the ADB–Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS) cooperation framework in agriculture, there are four ADB technical assistance projects. Three of these were completed in 2016. ADB has provided, and continues to provide, technical assistance to support implementation of the SAFSP program, which aims to implement the “Strategy for promoting safe and environmental friendly agro-based value chain in the GMS.”
Priority Areas Discussed
During the meeting, the Minister welcomed and expressed support for ADB project activities that have been and are being implemented with MAFF to develop Cambodia’s agriculture sector. The Minister highlighted several priority directions for ongoing and future cooperation:
- Promotion of crop production using greenhouse (net-house) systems.
- More efficient and cost-saving water use, including the use of solar power for daytime water pumping and use of lower-tariff electricity at night to reduce farmers’ operating costs.
- Improving food security, food safety, and economic sustainability through access to low-interest loans for agricultural production.
- Use of modern digital technologies (digitalization) to link producers and buyers, reduce intermediaries, lower value chain transaction costs, and increase producer income.
Implications for Investors, Businesses, or Compliance
The meeting confirms a substantive portfolio of ADB-supported agricultural investment and technical assistance projects with MAFF, including both ongoing and pipeline operations. Stakeholders in Cambodia’s agriculture sector can expect continued ADB engagement in areas such as greenhouse production, solar-powered and efficient irrigation systems, food safety and food security initiatives, and digital platforms to connect producers and markets. Access to low-interest financing for agricultural production was identified as a priority area, indicating a focus on financial mechanisms that support sectoral productivity and resilience. However, no new regulatory requirements or compliance obligations were announced in this update.
Official Source
The information is based on an official communication from the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries published on its verified Facebook page on 13 February 2023.
