Nurture - Nurturing Climate Resilience in Cambodia

Project description / objective

Building resilience to climate change for 15,000 households by sustainably increasing farmers’ income and improving access to water for irrigation. Climate-resilient and agroecological practices, products and services are promoted by leveraging both private sector and public sector actors. 

Market systems focus

Vegetable sub-sector

The vegetables sector is crucial for food security, nutrition, diversification of agricultural activities and economic development. There is high potential for diversification and adoption of agroecological practices. The majority of vegetables are imported to Cambodia from Vietnam. The main opportunities for development of the sector are to expand the production seasons, to focus on perishable and high value crops and to adopt GAP and other certified practices. 
There is limited technical know-how and adoption of climate-resilient practices. The sub-sector is very exposed to the effects of climate change. 

Rice

Rice is Cambodia's main agricultural product. It is traditionally cultivated for subsistence purposes with rice cultivated during the dry season being used for sales. 
The value chain suffers from weak linkages between its different actors. It is mostly based on rainfed agriculture and production is predominantly manual, with little to no machinery used (mostly hand tractor, diesel water pumps, combine harvesters by service providers).

Climate-resilient agriculture products and services (inputs and technologies)

Services and products aligned with agroecological principles (e.g. cover crop, bio-pesticides, organic fertiliser and zero-tillage machineries) are still very limited in Cambodia and only available in a few areas. The private sector often lacks the incentive, market knowledge and reliable partners on the ground

Water services for irrigation

There are approximately 2,300 irrigation schemes throughout Cambodia, but over half of these are not fully functioning. Most smallholder farmers don’t have access to water and depend on rainfed agriculture. Improved access to irrigation would lead to higher yields and increased number of production cycles for different crops.

Programme interventions

Vegetable sub-sector

• Support access to technical know-how and promotion of good agriculture practices (GAP) by leveraging private-led extension services. 
• Support on access to market and traceability of agricultural produce.

Rice

Support access to technical know-how and promotion of good agriculture practices (GAP) by leveraging private-led extension services and the establishment of market linkages.

Climate-resilient agriculture products and services 

• Develop incubation and acceleration programme for start-ups in the climate resilient agriculture space.
• Pilot private and public sector led models to enable access to climate-resilient agricultural products and services. 

Water services for irrigation

• Strengthening of water governance systems for operations and maintenance of irrigation systems.
• Pilot of public-private partnerships for irrigation as a service.

Notable results (systemic change, poverty impact)

To be added in due course.

[uploaded September 2023]