Cambodian farmers carrying rice in a field in Kampong Speu province in 2010. (Source: AFP) Phnom Penh (VNA) – The Cambodian Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries on December 25 launched a five-year strategic plan which focuses on making the agriculture sector more competitive and resilient to climate change.
The 2019 – 2023 plan aims to develop farming and push the agriculture sector to modernise, become more competitive and resilient to climate change and, in particular, to move on from labour-intensive traditional practices.
Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Veng Sakhon said the strategy provides an important roadmap to enhance farming and its products and the way they are delivered to consumers.
The Cambodian government wants to upgrade agriculture from traditional practices to an advanced agribusiness, with enhanced productivity, diverse potential crops and products meeting market needs, Sakhon said.
It would take into consideration, sustainability, globalisation and use of modern technology, he added.
He went on to say that through the strategic plan, the ministry urges the establishment of agricultural cooperatives and wants farmers to cooperate with the private sector under an agricultural public-private partnership.
Farmer-business contacts will help stablise the farming market, he said.
The strategy supports small- and medium-size enterprises (SMEs) and development partners to invest in the agriculture and processing sector to ensure sustainable, local productivity, stable markets and value-added products while promoting quality, sanitation and safety standards in order to comply with the demands of domestic and international markets, he noted./.
VNA
