Agricultural Cooperative Business Forum

An Agricultural Cooperative Business Forum is held today, December 3, 2024, at the Cambodiana Hotel in Phnom Penh. The forum will bring together representatives from government agencies, civil society organizations, the private sector, agricultural cooperatives, the Union of Agricultural Cooperatives, the Cambodian Agricultural Cooperative Alliance, and various farmer organizations. Its primary objectives are to: 1. Promote local agricultural products and enhance its market presence by establishing and expanding contract farming models that benefit both farmers and buyers. 2. Foster inclusive partnerships among agricultural cooperatives, private companies, and government agencies. 3. Enhance knowledge sharing on best practices in contract farming and sustainable production.

This event is co-organized by multiple stakeholders, including CamboDHRRA, CACA, WorldRenew, DCA, AFD, FNN, LHCO (formerly LWD), FCFD, WVI, GDRV, FWN, DPA, OREDA, GrowAsia (CPSA), DKT, KOC, FAEC, MB, CoDeC, IIRR-Cambodia, WWF, and the PCRL project. The program will be important for providing initiatives and discussing challenges related to the designated Rice Seed Producer Groups. It aims to build trust between paddy rice producers and rice millers through a comprehensive production plan that ensures the availability of seeds in terms of quantity, quality, and timeliness.

The forum brings together approximately 250 participants and speakers from a variety of stakeholder groups. These include AC and smallholder farmers, representatives from the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF), the Ministry of Commerce (MoC), the Ministry of Industry, Science, Technology, and Innovation (MISTI), the Ministry of Water Resources and Meteorology (MoWRAM), and the Ministry of Rural Development (MRD), as well as representatives from the model village initiative. Other attendees will include organizations involved in agriculture and rural development, private sector companies focused on agribusiness, processing, and retailing, Civil Society Organizations (CSOs), the Cambodia Climate Fund (CCF), the Cambodia Food Security Program (CFSP), the Cambodian Rural Fund (CRF), development partners, research institutions, and technical experts in food and agriculture systems.

During the ACBF 2024, participants will have the chance to address their challenges and propose solutions by focusing on the visibility of local products, the establishment of sustainable market linkages, and the empowerment of ACs among key actors in the agri-food supply chain and in promoting inclusive and sustainable agriculture.

Notably, 20 representatives from AC and 5 Project Coordinators from the PCRL project in 5 target provinces, representatives from the 17 Community Protected Areas (CPAs) also attended the forum. The PCRL believes that this forum will provide significant benefits to members of AC by fostering inclusive business relationships with market actors, improving market access, and strengthening contract farming models for agricultural products, particularly premium-quality rice, thereby establishing a trusted symbol of Cambodian agricultural excellence.