Contract farming (CF) is increasingly seen as an effective mechanism to maximise the
inclusion of and benefits for small-scale farmers, while giving some control over production
to agribusinesses without requiring land ownership. In Cambodia, CF takes many forms
and involves food and industrial crops, yet the different CF models and contract types have
not been identified. Farmers and contractors have encountered many problems in obtaining
reliable benefits from and sustaining CF schemes. The research objectives were to identify and
evaluate the various models of CF practiced in Cambodia, explore the supports required for
small farmers to maximise benefits from CF, and suggest policy options to improve linkages
between small farmers and CF. Snowball sampling was used to identify different CF models
and their location, and information was collected from 38 key informant interviews and seven
focus group discussions. The findings revealed four modalities of CF in operation: centralised,
informal, multipartite and intermediary. Most of the CF schemes are run by support agencies
and contractors, with contract documents (formula and format) drawn up by contractors without
recourse to the coordination mechanism described in the Sub-decree on Contract Farming.
Institutional supports especially for individual contract farmers remain limited. Centralised and
multipartite models can provide more benefits if contracts and agreements are well managed
and coordinated and there is enough support for farmers. CF practices do exist at community
level but, so far, there has been no clear supportive action from government, even though the
sub-decree has been signed. The promotion of CF to improve agricultural productivity and
rural incomes will not be effective unless the sub-decree is accompanied by policy, strategy
and action plans.
