CASIC Invited Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries to See the Progress of Agroecology in Cambodia

Kampong Cham, January 24th, 2023: Cambodia Conservation Agriculture and Sustainable Intensification Consortium (CASIC) successfully organized a field visit for the H.E. Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries to the Bos Khnor Conservation Agriculture Research for Development Centre (CARDEC) and the Cambodia Rubber Research Institute (CRRI) to showcase the relevance, progress and potential of agroecology and regenerative agriculture in Cambodia.

“I am impressed with the conservation agriculture and agroecological approach which could reduce the ploughing and uses of chemical fertilizers. However, CARDEC should have clear scientific references for further development. The center should use the reliable method and compare with types of condition effectively in order to seeks for support from other projects.”

Said H.E. Dith Tina, Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries

During the field visit, H.E. Dith Tina, Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries was able to see the on-ground implementation of CASIC’s 5-year roadmap and provide recommendations to CASIC on its operations and progress. The Minister was accompanied by H.E. OM Kimsir, Secretary of State, Ministry of Agriculture Forestry and Fisheries Chair of CASIC Steering Committee and H.E. CHAN Saruth Under Secretary of State, Ministry of Agriculture Forestry and Fisheries Chair of CASIC Executive Board.

The minister was informed on the different types of cropping systems and introduced to some of the long-term CA experiments that are being conducted at CARDEC under the Department of Agriculture Land Resources Management (DALRM). Demonstration of soil pits under conventional tillage management and Conservation Agriculture management, along with demonstrations of appropriate scale machineries and no till planters and different types of cropping systems and simulations were also organized. The minister also visited the cover crops genetic bank and was briefed on the CA/SI and agroecology activities in Cambodia as well as on CASIC’s activities.

The minister visit was an important milestone for CASIC as the consortium was able to present the overall progress of agroecology in Cambodia and also showcase the implementation of CASIC’s five-year roadmap.

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