An international development program funded by the New Zealand government has enabled Cambodian subsistence farmers to build resilience to climate change and lift them out of poverty, with the results showing remarkable success, according to the US non-governmental organization that implements the program (International Development Enterprise -iDE).
iDE says the Climate Smart Commercial Horticulture Cambodia (CSmart) program, a five-year program targeting 6,000 farmers in three provinces – Siem Reap, Banteay Meanchey and Oudomxay – has in recent years helped increase participants’ incomes by an average of $1,700 a year, more than the average Cambodian household’s annual income. (In 2020, Cambodia’s per capita GDP was $1,512, according to the World Bank.)
The $5 million program aims to boost local farmers’ incomes and strengthen their resilience to climate change by training them to use smart technologies such as water management, soil fertilization, and crop diversification.
To date, CSmart has worked with more than 50% of its target customers. 33% of households are headed by women. Because women play a vital role in Cambodia’s agriculture sector, CSmart targets women directly with training and other activities.
Kevin Robbins, iDE Cambodia’s country director, said CSmart is doing well not only because it is fighting climate change and poverty, but because every dollar spent on the program is delivering results.
“At iDE, we don’t believe in just providing a single document,” Robbins said. Instead, the program is helping subsistence farmers lift themselves out of poverty by showing them how to transform their farms into successful small businesses.
He said CSmart has been successful because it has created an entrepreneurial mindset among farmers and market actors and has used a robust evidence-based methodology to measure impact.
“By encouraging farmers to grow new, high-value crops, CSmart helps create value chains that connect farmers to a robust market ecosystem, boost their incomes and promote food security,” he said.
iDE We would like to thank the New Zealand government for its long-term investment in Cambodia, which is helping to reduce poverty and encourage farmers to adopt smart technologies.
“New Zealand has entrusted iDE with a key role in building value chains that connect farmers to a robust market ecosystem, boosting their incomes and increasing food security across the region.”
CSmart is part of the Cambodia Agribusiness Development Fund (CADF), which is implemented by iDE and has been running for 17 years and is also funded by New Zealand.
CADF has identified market opportunities for smallholder farmers By providing technical support on climate-resilient technologies and safe application of agrochemicals, and supporting value chains and agribusiness development.
CSmart will run until the end of 2024 and has a long-term goal of contributing to the “Stability, Prosperity, Resilience and Security Initiative” of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations. Fuseworks Media
