Funded by New Zealand, iDE project helped boost incomes for more than 6,000 Cambodian farmers and over 300 agri-businesses - 24 April 2025

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Ms. Tet Chann (email: tchann@ideglobal.org)

Phnom Penh, April 24, 2025 — Over the past five years, iDE Cambodia has improved the wellbeing of more than 6,000 smallholder farming households—43% of   which are led by women—by significantly increasing their profits and strengthening their resilience to climate and economic shocks. By supporting improved farming practices  and technologies, along with enabling better access to agricultural services and markets, iDE-supported farmers increased their annual profits from US$830 to more than US$3,700.

iDE Cambodia marked this achievement at the closeout celebration of its Climate Smart Commercial Horticulture Cambodia (CSmart) project, held in Siem Reap province. Launched in 2019 and funded by the New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT), the US$5.4 million project supported semi-commercial and commercial farmers in Siem Reap, Banteay Meanchey, and Oddar Meanchey provinces. The organization introduced climate-smart farming techniques and technologies, promoted farm and food safety practices, built the capacity of, and connections between, public and private sector actors, and fostered a more inclusive and resilient market system.

“CSmart is a story of 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,” said Kevin Robbins, country director of iDE Cambodia, during the event attended by more than 100 participants.

Using a market systems development approach, iDE partnered with public and private actors to improve the quality of agricultural inputs, promote responsible agrochemical use, deliver hands-on technical training through demonstration farms, and strengthen market linkages. These efforts have built more inclusive, resilient market systems that benefit farmers and everyone engaged in the market system.

"Applying systems thinking and a participatory approach, we engaged an array of market actors, including producers and producer groups, input suppliers, traders, agri-entrepreneurs, national input companies, large buyers, and government officials. By building on the incentives of project participants, we've helped build new relationships, capacities, and business models that will last beyond the project's lifespan," Robbins added.

Beyond increasing incomes, indirect household benefits of the project have included improved access to education, better health and nutrition outcomes, as well as greater household resilience in the face of climate and economic challenges.

“We are incredibly proud of iDE’s pioneering work in bringing climate-smart technologies to Cambodia,” said Dana AVRAM, New Zealand’s first secretary of development for Cambodia, Lao PDR, and Thailand. “It’s deeply rewarding to see supported farmers not only improving their livelihoods but also becoming better equipped to cope with future shocks.”

Local collaboration has been one of the crucial keys to the project’s success. Pang Vannaseth, director of the Provincial Department of Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries in Banteay Meanchey, highlighted the effective partnership the department has had with iDE: “Working with iDE allowed us to support not only farmers, but also to strengthen the role of private actors such as input retailers and buyers, while building better connections with niche market players.”

In addition to supporting farmers, CSmart empowered more than 300 farmgate collectors who buy and sell farmers’ produce for conventional markets. The project also helped develop value chains for high-value crops such as sweet melons, yellow-flesh watermelons, cherry tomatoes, beetroots, and shallots. Initiatives such as the Siem Reap Meanchey Melon Association have emerged as a trusted farmer organization, connecting producers with niche and more profitable markets across Cambodia.

CSmart is the latest  initiative of iDE’s two-decade long Cambodia Agribusiness Development Facility (CADF) program, funded by MFAT. CADF, which comprises multiple projects starting since 2005, has so far delivered an impressive positive impact for over 20,000 farmers across multiple value chains. iDE has been a pioneer in introducing drip irrigation and other climate-smart agricultural technologies and practices, while also introducing new, locally-produced crops such as onions, carrots, sweet melons, and more into the Cambodian market.   

“We owe deep debt of gratitude to New Zealand for its long-term investment in Cambodia’s future. Together, we’ve helped build a stronger, more climate-resilient agricultural sector in Cambodia,” said Robbins.