Background
The PEARL project steering committee functions as an inter-agency oversight body that coordinates climate adaptation activities for smallholder farmers across four target provinces. The committee convenes government ministries, development partners and private-sector stakeholders to review progress, approve priority actions, and align technical and operational plans for agricultural resilience.
The PEARL project targets approximately 100,000 farming households, equivalent to about 450,000 people, in Kampong Thom, Siem Reap, Preah Vihear and Oddar Meanchey provinces. Project components include strengthening local agricultural advisory services, upgrading digital Farmbook systems for farm-level data and advisory delivery, and measures for forest protection and restoration coupled with monitoring and evaluation adjustments.
Key Developments
On 31 July 2026 the PEARL steering committee held its 7th meeting and approved several priority activities. Approved items include increasing direct support by commune agricultural officers in the four target provinces; modernizing and extending the Ministry of Agriculture’s Farmbook platform rather than creating a new separate system; implementing forest protection and restoration measures; and revising the monitoring and evaluation (M&E) framework to improve resource targeting and efficiency.
Institutional Role
The meeting was co-led by Secretary of State Dr. Yang Sangkumar (MAFF) and Rebekah Bell, FAO representative in Cambodia, and included the project director Mes Piseth alongside representatives from relevant ministries, agencies, private sector actors and development partners. The steering committee serves as the forum for authorising project activities, coordinating partner contributions, and aligning provincial implementation with national agricultural resilience strategies.
Operational Implications
Approved actions are framed to strengthen frontline service delivery by commune agricultural officials and to provide farmers with timely agro-climatic information and quality agricultural services. Upgrading the Farmbook platform is intended to maintain continuity of farm-level data and advisory capacities while avoiding duplication of information systems. Revisions to the M&E plan aim to ensure resources and activities are tracked against agreed targets for smallholder support and natural resource management.
