• Region: Cambodia
• Focus: Organic rice
• Start: 2019
• SDGP, involving 6 project partners

RiceTechCambodia

RiceTechCambodia aims to add value to the organic rice value chain in Cambodia. With this project intervention, 2400 small-scale rice farmers will be reached in the Mondulkiri province. They will receive extensive training on good agricultural practices. All of these farmers will get access to drying, storage and milling facilities,  which increases the quality of the rice products and in turn increases the price. Additionally we seek to certify at least 1300 of these farmers. For this organically certified rice an additional price premium and guaranteed takeoff is granted. These measures provide the farmer with increased income security. Farmers are given a competitive advantage through the production of high quality specialty rice and obtain access to the international sales market.

Inclusive growth for the Cambodian rice sector

The SDGP project will implement a responsible, sustainable and inclusive rice value chain where it connects demand side (economic actors) with supply side (rural communities). The smallholder farmers in Mondulkiri (north-eastern part of Cambodia) currently lack an incentive to professionalize their rice production activities in order to improve their yield and income due to the absence of a direct sales market. By introducing professional organic rice cultivation practices through extensive training & contract farming, and creating access to nearby paddy drying, milling & storage facilities, the farmers will be able to gain knowledge, increase rice quality and yield, and increase income because of premium prices for their produce.

The project will be realized by supply of high-quality foundation seeds, (mechanical) agricultural tools & tractors, transfer of know-how, implementing track & trace along the supply chain, organic certification, installment of drying, milling & storage facilities, quality control & assurance, and introduction of a pilot project for circular rice-fish farming.

All project activities will directly lead to significant improvement of the livelihoods of local small-scale rice farmers in Mondulkiri and indirectly strengthen the general business climate in Cambodia, contributing to sustainable economic growth.

Partners

• Sanorice – A European producer of puffed rice, corn and other cereal cakes, located in the Netherlands (private sector)
• AMRU Rice – A company active in processing and fair trade of organic rice, located in Cambodia (private sector)
• Oxfam in Cambodia – is an international non-governmental organisation part of the Oxfam confederation  of 20 affiliates operating together in 94 countries (NGO)
• Development and Partnership in Action – is a Cambodian non-governmental organisation, localised from an international NGO called CIDSE (NGO)
• Provincial Department of Agriculture of Mondulkiri – is a governmental department of the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fishery located in Mondulkii. (local government)
• Larive International – is a Netherlands based international business development firm, active in the field of providing market entry strategies for high growth markets. (project coordinator)

In the media

• Khmer Times: Netherlands-funded programme to bolster organic rice farming
• Phnom Pehn Post: RiceTechCambodia to aid small-scale farmers

For more information, please contact Davinia Lamme.