- ADB and IFAD, in partnership with the Royal Government of Cambodia, established the TSSD-AF project to foster community-driven development and helps to lift future generations out of poverty.
- Investments in agricultural support, farm-to-market infrastructure construction, and capacity development initiatives under the the TSSD-AF project impact 270 communes in the Tonle Sap basin.
- Climate-smart agricultural practices, improved rice seed quality, and agricultural diversification under the TSSD-AF project strenghten rural communities’ ability to manage economic instability.
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Across the Southeast Asia region few countries have achieved high levels of economic growth and focused its national development efforts to reduce poverty more than Cambodia.
But persistent challenges remain and perhaps none greater than alleviating the scourge of poverty in the agricultural heartland areas of Cambodia.
In response, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), in partnership with the Royal Government of Cambodia, established the Tonle Sap Poverty Reduction and Smallholder Development Project and its additional financing (TSSD-AF) to foster community-driven development.
The project provides high-quality seed, through two ADB-funded rice seed production stations, to farmers in rice seed producer groups in the Tonle Sap basin.
Investments in agricultural support, farm-to-market infrastructure construction, and capacity development initiatives impact 270 communes in the Tonle Sap basin.
The project improves rural market access by building transportation infrastructure that can withstand extreme climate events.
Climate-smart agricultural practices, improved rice seed quality, and agricultural diversification including fruit and vegetable production, and chicken raising, have strengthened rural communities’ ability to manage economic instability.
The TSSD-AF project enables farming families in the Tonle Sap Basin to generate higher incomes, helping to lift future generations out of poverty.
Transcript
Across the Southeast Asia region few countries have achieved high levels of economic growth and focused its national development efforts to reduce poverty more than Cambodia.
But persistent challenges remain and perhaps none greater than alleviating the scourge of poverty in the agricultural heartland areas of Cambodia.
In response, ADB and IFAD, in partnership with the Royal Government of Cambodia, established the Tonle Sap Poverty Reduction and Smallholder Development Project and its additional financing (TSSD-AF) to foster community-driven development.
Jyotsana Varma, Country Director, Cambodia Resident Mission, ADB:
“This project is a very important one in improving the livelihoods of farmers, especially women. It increases the climate resilience of farmers in their production. It helps them diversify out of rice towards lemongrass, cassava, cashew nuts, and other vegetables. It also has helped farmers to organize themselves into cooperatives for better market access. It has helped women find a voice. In fact, you can see as you go through the villages there are better houses and there are more children in school, there are also small businesses coming up and a general feeling of prosperity all around. So, it has impacted the livelihoods of farmers in the region, and especially for women.”
The project provides high-quality seed, through two ADB-funded rice seed production stations, to farmers in rice seed producer groups in the Tonle Sap basin.
Ret Pheach, Farmer/Rice Seed Producer’s Group, Kampong Thom:
“The lives of the members of my community have greatly improved since we started the seed producer group. It reduces poverty in our community. Because there are markets for the seeds we produce, we can sell them at a high price.”
Investments in agricultural support, farm-to-market infrastructure construction, and capacity development initiatives impact 270 communes in the Tonle Sap basin.
Frew Behabtu, Country Director – Cambodia, Asia and the Pacific Division, IFAD:
‘’Year-round market access infrastructure has allowed buyers to purchase produce from project participants – leading to improved incomes for nearly 100,000 people, more than half of whom are women.’’
Nov Khoeut, Farmer, Teuk Chum Village, Siem Reap:
"When the road was not yet paved and we wanted to go to the market, it was extremely difficult, including transporting our agricultural products. It is also challenging for children to go to school. We are very happy to have this new road. Even if the sides of the road are flooded, we can still use the road and travel.”
The project improves rural market access by building transportation infrastructure that can withstand extreme climate events.
Climate-smart agricultural practices, improved rice seed quality, and agricultural diversification including fruit and vegetable production, and chicken raising, have strengthened rural communities’ ability to manage economic instability.
Thy Sopheap, Chick Producer/Farmer, Chan Sor Commune, Siem Reap:
“With chicken raising, we can earn more money, do not have to migrate, and can work at home. Most importantly, we can make a decent living.”
The TSSD-AF project enables farming families in the Tonle Sap Basin to generate higher incomes, helping to lift future generations out of poverty.
