The Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF), the European Union and Germany officially launched here on Sept. 5 a project to enhance sustainability, export, competitiveness and inclusiveness of Cambodia’s cashew nuts and pepper industries, focusing on increasing local value addition and strengthening national systems governing food safety and climate-resilient agriculture.

The event was presided over by Minister of MAFF H.E. Dith Tina, EU Ambassador to Cambodia, H.E. Igor Driesmans, the Chargé d’Affaires and Head of German Development Cooperation, Mr. Jost Kadel.

It will ensure decent work practices for the workers, and to increase capacity of producers and processors to adopt sustainable practices and relevant standards to meet export requirements of markets including of the European Union.

The EU-German CAPSAFE project (EU-German Cambodia Partnership for Sustainable Agriculture and Food systems) is part of the Team Europe Initiative (TEI) to promote green agribusiness and decent jobs in C
ambodia.

This initiative by European partners brings increased productivity in targeted value-chains by promoting green technology, agro-ecology and responsible investment (including deforestation-free) in production and agro-processing.

With a US$27 million joint funding from the EU and the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) of Germany, the five-year project will be implemented by GIZ in collaboration with the Royal Government of Cambodia, represented by the MAFF in at least four key provinces including Kampong Thom, Kratie, Thbong Khmum, and Kampot.

H.E. Dith Tina emphasised that by embracing green growth and enhancing export competitiveness, Cambodia is not only improving the livelihoods of her farmers but also ensuring that Cambodia contributes to Carbon Net Zero and remains resilient in the face of climate challenges.

‘This cooperation with our European partners highlights our shared commitment to building a prosperous future for all,’ he said.

For his part, H.E Igor Dri
esmans stressed the importance of investing in sustainability and social due diligence to expand access to niche markets for Cambodian agriculture products.

‘This initiative reflects the EU and Germany’s commitment to promoting green growth and creating decent jobs in Cambodia in response to Cambodia’s increased commitment on green transition. We hope to improve the cashew nut and pepper value chains for the benefit of farmers and SMEs, while promoting environment and social standards for exports to, and investments from, the European Union,’ he said.

The Chargé d’Affaires and Head of German Development Cooperation, Mr. Jost Kadel, underscored the critical role of agriculture in Cambodia’s economy and its importance in achieving Cambodia’s Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) under the Paris Agreement.

‘Our primary objective for this project is to enhance Cambodia’s competitiveness and climate resilience in the agricultural sector, resulting in greater incomes, expanded processing capacities, and enh
anced market access for all stakeholders involved,’ he said.

The event also showcased successful results of another project under the Team Europe approach – ‘Strengthening the Climate Resilience of Agricultural Systems in Cambodia and Vietnam’ (CRAS), funded by Germany and concluding in September 2024.

In Cambodia, CRAS has enhanced farming techniques and supply chain organisation to help farmers adapt to climate change, gain access to new markets and introduced public-private dialogue formats to align interventions for the selected commodity chains.

Source: Agence Kampuchea Presse