Background
The steering committee of the EU‑German CAPSAFE project convened at the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries to review progress on standards, policy drafts and value‑chain support for mango and cashew. The EU‑German CAPSAFE project supports development of national policies and commodity standards for mango and cashew value chains in Cambodia. CAPSAFE has completed a midterm report on a draft national planting policy for cashew and has prepared a raw mango seed standard designated M23.
Project partners reported additional operational results including a successful external test of electronic phytosanitary certification (ePhyto) in Indonesia, training activities, and commercial facilitation. The project trained 1,600 commune officials on the Farmbook App and 3,200 farmers, facilitated contracts to sell 6,600 tonnes of mango and 150 tonnes of cashew, and provided technical support to 18 processing companies to increase processing and export readiness; steering‑committee priorities for the second half of 2026 include a national forum on mango and cashew in November, operationalising ePhyto in September, and resolving an electronic‑signature issue with the postal authority.
Scope of Application
The decisions and outputs apply to Cambodia’s mango and cashew value chains, covering technical seed standards, planting policy for cashew, phytosanitary certification procedures, and capacity building for local institutions and firms. Activities involve national‑level policy instruments and technical standards that will be used by public agencies, producer organisations and private processors engaged in export and domestic supply chains.
Key Provisions or Decisions
Key outcomes reported by the committee included: completion of a midterm report on the draft cashew planting policy; preparation of a raw mango seed standard (M23); successful external testing of ePhyto; targeted training programs for commune officials and farmers; facilitation of commercial sales contracts for mango and cashew volumes; and technical support to 18 processing firms. The committee set operational priorities for H2 2026, notably organising a national forum on mango and cashew in November, linking local firms to European investors, launching ePhyto in September, and addressing electronic signature arrangements with the postal ministry.
Implications for Investors, Businesses, or Compliance
The establishment of a formal mango seed standard and a draft cashew planting policy creates a clearer technical basis for seed procurement and planting practices in supply chains. Operationalising ePhyto will change the modality for issuing phytosanitary export certificates by shifting from paper to an electronic transmission mechanism tested internationally. Capacity building and contract facilitation activities reported by CAPSAFE increase the documented trade readiness of participating producers and processors, which may affect sourcing and compliance processes for buyers and exporters.
Official Source
Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Facebook post: https://www.facebook.com/maff.gov.kh/posts/pfbid02tu4dnAscG4FsV1n2JHhTZ71gdBiPYTraScraYA9Px6WkWDwvUf2hFcHnMrMgg5K9l
