The Royal Government of Cambodia (RGC) through the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF) is formulating a new Agriculture Development Policy (ADP), 2021-2030, with technical support from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) in Cambodia.

The goal of this ten-year policy is to increase agricultural growth with high competitiveness and inclusivity. It is to support the country mission to increase provision of high quality, safe and nutritious food products, while safeguarding land, forest and fishery resources.

In the past two decades, Cambodia’s economy has sustained an average growth rate of 7 percent, driven by garment exports, tourism, and construction. However, the COVID-19 outbreak severely affected these main engines of Cambodia’s growth.

Amid the COVID-19 crisis, the RGC has recognized agriculture as the most resilient and a strategic sector for not only economic growth but also contributing to the improvement of livelihoods and poverty reduction of rural people.

The ADP framework has been aligned with government policies as well as the Cambodian Sustainable Development Goals (CSDGs). This key policy of the MAFF is also aiming at turning the COVID-19 crisis into an opportunity to further boost the quality of local produce and substitute imports, and for improving and accelerating livelihood recovery of economically vulnerable households impacted by the pandemic.

Mr Alexandre Huynh, FAO Representative to Cambodia highlighted that, “the agriculture sector has a strong role to play in the recovery from the pandemic and we recognize that COVID-19 influenced both the elaboration process and the content of the ADP, 2021-2030.”

H.E. Chan Chesda, Secretary of State of the MAFF, explained that the ADP centers its focus in the next ten years on increasing productivity and growth and to facilitate the transition to modern and sustainable food systems in Cambodia.

The ADP describes the desired policy framework for a successful implementation of the MAFF’s Agriculture Sector Master Plan 2030 (ASPM, 2030), which is the detailed and precise plan to strengthen the sector and its contribution to economic growth and socioeconomic wellbeing of producers and consumers.

The ADP, its policy framework and strategic priorities, are identified under the guidance and direct leadership of H.E. Srey Vuthy, Secretary General of the MAFF. According to him, the ADP will guide policy actions that aim to boots income for smallholder farmers by elevating the promotion and support on strategic commodities and good value-added crops that not only offer promising income but also good nutritional values.

Additionally, the ADP covers developments that are needed in related and complementary areas like transport infrastructure, energy supply, financial support services, and foreign direct investments, all areas that have a bearing on the performance of agriculture and the wellbeing of its stakeholders. Besides, the policy also pinpoints a requirement for innovation, education, consideration for the demand side in food systems, as well as the need for a strong national leadership in products quality control to meet the ambitious goal of the policy.

H.E. Chan Chesda also highlighted that, “achieving the ADP ambitious goal and objectives in the next 10 years requires unprecedented efforts. All sub-sector players, farmers, fishers and other producers, line ministries, development partners, and private sector companies must be the heart of this endeavor.”