Phnom Penh (Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries/Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nation) – MAFF and FAO announced today that they are launching an emergency project to help impoverished farmers boost agricultural production immediately. The project – funded from FAO’s Technical Cooperation Programme (TCP) – is part of the Organization’s Initiative on Soaring Food Prices (ISFP) launched by the FAO Director-General in December 2007 aimed at boosting local food supply to soften the blow of soaring food prices.

The Rice Seed Distribution Ceremony to vulnerable farmers took place today at Bati district, Takeo province, presided over by HE Chan Sarun, minister for agriculture, forestry and fisheries, in the presence of Omar Salah Ahmed, FAO representative a.i in Cambodia.

Soaring food prices have hit Cambodia particularly hard, a joint MAFF/FAO statement said. Cambodia has been hit by natural disasters such as drought, flood and brown plant hoppers which had negative impact on the food production. The prices of foods and other commodities are now well beyond the reach of consumers.

FAO is focusing on immediate activities during this rainy season from July 2008 to September 2008 and on dry season activities from November 2008 until January 2009 so that by the next harvests there will be more food available locally at lower prices.

The project is providing fertilizers, which are petroleum-based and thus also out of reach of poor farmers as oil prices are breaking new records every day.

In total, the project will be providing 56 tonnes of rice seed, 70 tonnes of DAP and 70 tonnes of urea fertilizers to 2 800 poor households in the Takeo area. Planting will begin for the rainy season in September and for the dry season in December.

"The assistance will help improve food security of rural households in selected areas, in particular in Bati, Treang and Somroang districts of Takeo province," added Omar Salah Ahmed.

TCP projects draw upon FAO’s limited pool of core funding for field projects, and need to meet urgent needs of countries under the ISFP.

FAO’s support under ISFP in Cambodia amounts to USD 200 000 through the end of 2008.

For the medium and long term plan, FAO is aiming at a more comprehensive assistance programme towards agricultural development by focusing on increased productivity, irrigation and improving storage.

For further information, contact Mr Chuop Paris or Soy Seung of the FAO Representation at 023 216566/211702.

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