Agroecological alliance for sustainable cashew production in Cambodia

Background

Cashew nut production is an important and rapidly growing sub-sector in Cambodia, employing around 70,000 households, 78% of which are smallholder farmers with production areas of less than 5 hectares. The main cashew-producing provinces are Kampong Thom and Preah Vihear. Since 2006, new varieties (M23 and M21) have been introduced and production has become more commercialized. The new varieties have many desirable qualities, but they are more susceptible to damage from insects and diseases. Many cashew producers have turned to synthetic agricultural inputs to control pests and fertilize the soil. As a result, soil quality is deteriorating, pest infestations are more frequent, and the ecosystem around production areas is out of balance. The main constraints on production are climate change and increased production costs due to the use of chemical inputs. In addition, harvesting, processing, and storage are not yet up to standard. Another problem is the lack of trust between actors in the value chain.

Beneficiaries

The main target group for this project consists of the 23 cashew farming cooperatives operating in the two target provinces.

The other stakeholders in the project are:

• Two umbrella-type CSOs are also collaborating in the action.
• Members of ALiSEA (Agroecology Learning Alliance in South East Asia), comprising civil society organizations (CSOs), farmers' organizations, research institutes, retailers, and government agencies.
• Government agencies, namely the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries (MAFF), the General Directorate of Agriculture (GDA), the Ministry of Commerce (MoC), the Provincial Departments of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (PDAFF) and the Provincial Departments of Commerce (PDoC) of Kampong Thom and Preah Vihear, as well as local authorities (provincial governors, district governors, commune councilors, village chiefs).
• Cashew traders and processors, financial service providers, and suppliers of inputs and equipment.

The project plans to:

• Create frameworks for dialogue between the various stakeholders in the cashew nut market (agricultural cooperatives, private companies, and public bodies) to enable companies operating in this sector to realize their full commercial potential.
• Promote agroecological practices for cashew nut production and marketing, with the support of the leaders of the 23 targeted agricultural cooperatives.
• Bring together private sector companies and agricultural cooperatives within two agro-industrial clusters (ABC). These collaborations will enable the development of joint strategies to promote more inclusive access to Cambodian cashew nut markets.