On the 7th of September 2022 the Cambodia Conservation Agriculture and Sustainable Intensification Consortium (CASIC) with support from FAO’s TAP-AIS project held a national policy dialogue event on “Promoting Conservation Agriculture in Cambodia.” The dialogue, which was held at the Ministry of Agriculture Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF), had a total of 49 participants (including 12 women) representing the government, international organizations (including CIRAD, EU, GIZ and Swisscontact), farmer organizations and the private sector.

H.E. Dr. Asikin Yoeu and H.E. Dr. Chan Saruth, CASIC Steering Committee Vice Chair and Executive Board Chair respectively, and Undersecretaries of State of MAFF, presided over the dialogue and ensured that the event was conducted in a participatory manner, including contributions from stakeholders from all sectors. Results from two subnational policy dialogues held in Battambang province and a draft policy brief entitled “Bottom-up solutions to promote conservation agriculture in Cambodia” were presented and discussed at the dialogue. Recommendations, especially to promote mechanization, market access and education and training opportunities for conservation agriculture, were the focus of the discussion.

This national policy dialogue has resulted in a way forward for CASIC in promoting their policy agenda including a plan for next steps and the policy brief which will be revised and published in the coming weeks.

In person participants of the national policy dialogue pictured here in front of MAFF in Phnom Penh. ©CASIC

H.E. Dr. Yoeu Asikin, Undersecretary of state of MAFF, and CASIC Steering Committee Vice Chair giving her opening remarks. ©CASIC

Participants preparing for the policy dialogue event to begin. ©CASIC