Over the past five years, more than 6,000 farming households in Cambodia, 43% of them led by women, have seen their incomes soar thanks to iDE Cambodia’s efforts. - Supplied
PHNOM PENH: In the past five years, more than 6,000 farming households in Cambodia, nearly half of them led by women, have seen their incomes soar thanks to iDE Cambodia’s efforts.
By adopting new farming technology and gaining better access to services, these farmers have boosted their profits from an average of just $830 a year to over $3,700.
iDE, non-profit organisation, celebrated this achievement at a closeout event for its Climate Smart Commercial Horticulture Cambodia (CSmart) project, which wrapped up in Siem Reap province on April 24.
Launched in 2019 with a $5.4 million fund from the New Zealand government, the project helped farmers in Siem Reap, Banteay Meanchey and Oddar Meanchey provinces improve their farming.
Through climate-smart techniques and better connections with both public and private sectors, farmers got better crops, safer food practices and even stronger market systems.
iDE celebrated this achievement at a closeout event for its Climate Smart Commercial Horticulture Cambodia (CSmart) project, which wrapped up in Siem Reap province on Thuraday (April 24).
Kevin Robbins, the country director of iDE Cambodia, was extremely proud of the farmers’ resilience and growth.
“We focused on building entrepreneurial mindsets among farmers and market actors — helping them see their fields not just as farms, but as viable businesses,” he said.
The project worked with everyone in the agricultural chain: farmers, traders, input suppliers and even the government, making the whole system stronger and more sustainable.
Not only did farmers get richer, but there were also big wins for their households — improved access to education, better health and more resilience against economic and climate shocks.
Dana Avram, New Zealand first secretary of development for Cambodia, Laos and Thailand, praised the project’s success.
“It’s amazing to see these farmers not only improving their incomes but becoming more prepared for the challenges ahead,” she said.
The success of CSmart was also down to local partnerships. Pang Vannaseth, head of the Agriculture Department in Banteay Meanchey, spoke highly of their collaboration with iDE.
“Working together, we strengthened connections with both farmers and private companies, building stronger market relationships,” he said.
And it wasn’t just farmers getting a boost. Over 300 farmgate collectors — those who buy and sell produce — also saw improvements.
The project also helped create value chains for high-demand crops like sweet melons, cherry tomatoes and beetroots.
New farmer-led organisations like the Siem Reap Meanchey Melon Association now connect producers with lucrative, niche markets across Cambodia.
This success is part of a bigger picture — iDE’s Cambodia Agribusiness Development Facility (CADF), which has been helping farmers since 2005.
With funding from New Zealand, CADF’s multi-project efforts have improved the lives of over 20,000 farmers across Cambodia, introducing climate-smart irrigation, new crop, and better farming practices. - The Phnom Penh Post/ANN
