AsiaDHRRA Delegation’s Visit to Agriculture Cooperatives in Kampong Chhnang Province, Cambodia

Mrs. Malin Ramirez, General Secretary Asiadhrra, Mr. Cesar and Mr. Afan, Senior Officer Esadra Organization, Mr. Him Noun, General Secretary CamboDHRRA Association, Mr. Pan Sopheap, Executive Director of Farmers and Nature Net Association (FNN) and Chairman of the Council Government of Cambodia Association, Mr. Aung Vuthy, Business Development Officer and Mr. Yat Sithoeun, Officer of FNN, visited Vean Meanchey and Samaki Meanchey Agriculture Cooperatives in Kampong Chhnang Province in July 10 and 11, 2022. We discussed and studied how did AC members produce organic vegetable responding to and link them to markets.

We learned that each AC has a vegetable producer group (VPG) consisting of about 10 members. They received a series technical training on vegetable production and organic standard development. VPG leaders were trained to become farmer trainer and internal controller. They play an important role to conduct echo-trainings for their members. Their farms (soil and water source) were tested and the environment surrounding were also assessed by Control Union for non-chemical substance and being clean. In order to link their products to markets, the ACs signed contract farming on behalf of VPGs with the companies (KOC, Snadey Me, …) to supply vegetable to their markets. After getting organic standard technical trainings and contract farming, the VPG farmers started growing vegetable in conformance with the contract. The farm of each VPG member has been control by the internal control system (the trained VPG leader) for ensuring organic standard. However, the farmers also challenged the transportation of vegetable (broken), climate, and limited business planning skills.