Press Release Project Launch

To launch the project, the General Directorate of Agriculture (GDA) of the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF), the General Directorate of Local Community (GDLC) of the Ministry of Environment (MoE) and with the technical support of the FAO, conduct today an Inception Workshop. The objective of the workshop is to present an overview of the project to relevant stakeholders and to seek their feedback and reach a consensus on the implementation strategies and the scope of the activities to achieve the intended outcomes.

“The Royal Government of Cambodia has identified specific needs to support small farmers to improve their livelihoods, national food security, economy and climate resilient agriculture systems. It has set two priority policy programs for agriculture through introducing coordinating mechanisms and financing programs that enhance agricultural production, market access, and price stability at a reasonable level, and deploying agricultural technical officers to all communes that have agricultural activities across the nation and forming farmer associations in rural areas,” said H.E Dr. Yang Saing Koma, Secretary of State of the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries.

“The MAFF is paying close attention to reducing poverty through the development of agriculture, a priority sector of the national economy and a major source of livelihood for most rural people,” added H.E Dr. Koma.

The Ministry of Environment, through the General Department of Local Community (GDLC), has set strategic priorities for local community development, focusing on the creation and diversification of occupations, which are an important part of contributing to the improvement of local communities' livelihoods and to increasing agricultural income and organizing ecotourism services and other occupations that do not affect the natural resources in the area.

“The Tonle Sap Basin is not just a geographical region, it is a lifeline for the millions of Cambodian people who depend on its resources for their daily livelihoods and sustenance,” said H.E Mom Thany, Secretary of State of the Ministry of Environment.

“The GDLC will implement the PCRL project in collaboration with relevant institutions, the private sector and development partners to improve the livelihoods of Tonle Sap communities, natural resource management and biodiversity conservation, especially to ensure sustainable development of the environment, economy, society, culture and politics,” added H.E Thany.

“This project has a main objective to reduce their climate vulnerability and increase their resilience to climate change through an ecosystem-based, market-driven approach,” said H.E Dr. Chou Cheythyrith, PCRL Project Manager and Deputy Director General of the General Department of Agriculture, MAFF.

“It will complement the basic initiatives of the General Department of Agriculture through investment in climate-resilient technologies, capacity building of relevant officials and vulnerable rice-based communities, as well as strengthening the structure of agricultural production, especially the development of agricultural sector and reduce the vulnerability of communities to climate change,” added H.E Dr. Ngin Chhay, PCRL Project Director and Director General of the General Department of Agriculture, MAFF.

The PCRL project works in five target provinces around the Tonle Sap Lake i.e. Pursat, Battambang, Banteay Meanchey, Siem Reap, and Kampong Thom, a major rice-growing region with abundant rainfall but limited access to irrigation, where most vulnerable communities have little adaptability to climate change,

“Under the PCRL project, FAO is also excited to work in partnership with both MoE and MAFF towards broader and diversified agricultural productions, forestry and ecosystem restoration, to benefit sustainable agricultural development and to enhance the livelihoods of rice-based communities living around the Tonle Sap Lake,” said Rebekah Bell, FAO Representative in Cambodia.

“Through this collaboration, FAO and the Royal Government of Cambodia can enable effective support for the food and agriculture sectors with a focus on economic and environmental opportunities for smallholder producers in the agriculture, forestry, and fisheries sectors,” added Rebekah.

For more information:
Mr. Yos Katank, PCRL Project Communications Specialist
General Directorate of Agriculture GDA/MAFF
Address:  #54B/49F, Street 395-656, Toeuk Laak3, Tuol Kork, Phnom Penh, Cambodia
Email: info@pcrl.org
H/P: 077 878 001
Website: www.pcrl.org