The Issue
Agribusinesses are increasingly recognizing the long-term benefits of climate-resilient and regenerative agriculture, leading to investments that can directly support farmers adopting agroecological methods. This shift creates a more supportive environment for sustainable practices to take root. Despite the positive trends, but critical challenges remain that disproportionately impact vulnerable smallholder farmers, particularly women and youth.
The first problem is the climate change impact and environmental degradation. In addition, Cambodia’s agricultural sector is heavily reliant on industrial practices that, while offering short-term gains, inflict significant long-term damage. The overuse of harmful agrochemicals, a hallmark of this approach, is a major culprit. These chemicals contribute to deforestation as farmers clear more land to compensate for declining soil fertility caused by overuse. Furthermore, chemical runoff pollutes waterways, harms aquatic life, and disrupts ecosystems.
The second main problem is the lack of coordination mechanisms and robust support platforms for market and food system development. Cambodia’s food system suffers from an underdeveloped policy framework and advocacy support network for agroecology. Furthermore, the absence of well-developed platforms specifically designed to support agroecological producers hinders progress. Fragmented information sharing, limited access to technical expertise, and a lack of dedicated marketing channels for organic and sustainable products create significant hurdles. This inefficiency stifles innovation, weakens market linkages, and ultimately hinders the development of a thriving and reliable market for Cambodian-grown sustainable food. Compounding the challenge of underdeveloped support platforms is the critical lack of youth engagement in dialogues and debates about Cambodia’s food system. The underrepresentation of youth voices creates a blind spot, potentially leading to decisions that don’t address the needs of future generations who will inherit the food system. Disengaged youth are less likely to see farming as a viable career path, further exacerbating the agricultural workforce decline and hindering the development of innovative solutions for a sustainable food system.
The third problem is the limited market and value addition for agricultural products. Smallholder farmers face limited access to markets and fair prices for their products, discouraging them to adopt sustainable practices. Additionally, a focus on raw commodities (cassava, fruit, cashew nut, etc.) limits profitability and the overall potential of the sector. The absence of effective market systems could be a major constraint on agricultural innovation activation.
The Project
Enhancing the Agroecological Transition II (EAT II) project was established in 2024, it has three interconnected result:
- Increased farming and food processing capacity: Farmers and processors have increased environmentally sustainable production that adapted to climate change and biodiversity protection practices.
- Improved effective institutions: Local platforms play a leading role in shaping the development of sustainable markets and safe food systems.
- Improved resilient livelihoods: Farmers, women and youth increased income and job opportunities in agriculture sector or green jobs/businesses supported by the project.
Key activity
- Develop detailed infrastructure plans and feasibility studies with experts for agroecology (AE)
- Training and coaching farmers on agroecology
- Identity market specifications for main products produced by targeted communities.
- Pilot appropriate production technology and processes to meet market specifications.
- Pilot the provision of enabling services, inputs, technology and infrastructures.
- Meetings with government, private sector, research institutes, and CSOs to join collaborative actions with local platforms on sustainable food systems.
- Joint/co-organize consultative meetings, workshops, conferences and fair events to disseminate evidence-based recommendations for food system policy and practice.
- Joint research projects, labs and R&D working groups to develop, test and evaluate new AE technologies and approaches.
- Organize youth living labs on food systems issues.
- Organize Youth Agroecology Caravans on agroecology initiatives.
Co-organize Youth Farmer Forums conducting dialogues and debates food systems issues.
The Change
The project supports vulnerable farmers, especially women, youth and minority groups to adapt to climate change and enjoy resilient livelihoods, by improving their inclusion in green and sustainable food and market systems, with necessary infrastructures, extension services, finance schemes, and market linkages.
The Results
- 401 farmers applied agroecological practices
- 335 farmers farmers grow vegetable in both the rainy and dry seasons for commercial purposes
- 60 farmers applied Participatory Guarantee System (PGS) for vegetable, grasshopper, and cricket raising
- One weekend market is functioning and operating
Our work
DCA works in Cambodia to promote sustainable livelihoods for smallholder farmers and to support increased agricultural production and income. This is done by facilitating knowledge sharing, introducing innovative drought-resistant agricultural technologies and agro-ecology, and by working with farmers to design and manage systems to minimize external/artificial inputs. Agro-ecology also shortens the food chain and empowers smallholder farmers to strengthen their relationships with consumers, promoting the resilience of our food system. Together, these initiatives support DCA’s goal of building resilient communities.
About the project
Full title: Enhancing Agroecological Transition II (EAT II)
Period: January 2024 – December 2026
Partner: Sustainable Soil for Life (SSLA)
Funding: 1,337,708 DKK
People reached: Direct beneficieries: 260 women and 155 men. Indirect beneficieries: 1170 women and 697 men.
Main Donors: Danida
