iAGRO – Improving Agriculture Value Chain in Kampong Speu Province, Cambodia
Project details
- Project Implementer: Diakonie ČCE
- Donor: Czech Development Cooperation
- Implementation period: 2021 - 2023
- Holistic Solutions Ltd participation: throughout the implementation period
Objective
Only a small percentage of farmers in the targeted districts in Kampong Speu province process their crops after harvest. The fall in market prices for individual crops often leads to wastage, and farmers prefer to leave them fallow in the field rather than pay the cost of transporting them, which is higher than their earnings. But by processing, food can be preserved and its value increased. These products can then be used as nutritional enrichment in the diets of target families or as an additional source of income. However, the lack of local training opportunities in this field is a barrier; there is no vocational-technical training centre dedicated to food processing.
The project aims to diversify the income sources of small entrepreneurs and farmers through agricultural and non-agricultural activities.
Outputs
Output 1: Smallholder farmers, farmer and non-farmer groups and farmer cooperatives increased their capacity in farming, agribusiness and value chains
Output 2: Increased agricultural productivity (horticulture, livestock, aquaculture and rice production) and market linkages
Output 3: The capacity of agricultural cooperatives to diversify and mobilize resources was increased
Output 4: Awareness raising among community members on prevention of human trafficking, unsafe migration and exploitation
Output 5: Members of agricultural cooperatives use new food processing methods and TVET centre support
Output 6: Partner OCs were trained in management and marketing and linked to the market
Target Group and Beneficiaries
Adults in the region generally lack opportunities to attain technical and vocational education. The project targets members of 16 agricultural cooperatives in 16 communes of 3 districts in Kampong Speu province. The total number of partner farmers is 5,173 with a substantial proportion of 3,839 women.
The Holistic Solutions team focuses mainly on activities related to technical training and food processing training in the form of drying, sterilization and fermentation, but also on consulting on the renovation and modification of the training centre as well as its equipment, and has also focused on the technical design of suitable storage space (cellar).
