By Thol Buntha – DPA
A delegation from Steering Committee and Executive Board Members of Cambodia Conservation Agriculture and Sustainable Intensification Consortium (CASIC) including participants from relevant government’s ministries, Provincial Departments of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (PDAFF), development partners and private sectors participated a field visit to engage and observe agroecological practices at Sustainable Soil for Life Association (SSLA), an Agroecology Learning Alliance in Southeast Asia (ALiSEA)’s member, in Battambang province on 13 December 2023.
The main objectives of the field visit were to build a foundation for future collaboration between CASIC and ALiSEA to enhance the agroecology transitions in Cambodia, to increase CASIC’s understanding of ALiSEA’s role in facilitating knowledge exchange among its members, and to demonstrate how ALiSEA could contribute to policy development on agroecology at national and regional levels through evidence creation and other means.
The delegation of 35 members, led by H.E. Om Kimsir, Secretary of State of Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF) and Chair of CASIC Steering Committee, were comprised of relevant government’s ministries and institutions including Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF), Ministry of Women’s Affairs, Cambodia Chamber of Commerce, and Council for Agricultural and Rural Development (CARD).
H.E. Om Kimsir delivered a remark to welcome the participants, during which he emphasized the significance of agroecological practices that relevant stakeholders and the government are paying attention to. “CASIC is not the implementer, but we coordinate nongovernmental organizations, government’s institutions and relevant stakeholders to work well together to support agroecology.”
Additionally, H.E. Dr. Chan Saruth, Under Secretary of State of MAFF and Chair of CASIC Executive Board, expressed his appreciation for ALiSEA and the organizing committee for hosting the field visit. He stated that the field visit could pave the way for closer relationship and collaboration between CASIC and ALiSEA in the future. He also encouraged other development partners and research institutions that are non-members of ALiSEA to apply to become a member of ALiSEA.
Following the welcome remarks, participants were introduced to ALiSEA and SSLA’s interventions including presentation by farmers who were supported by SSLA on their agroecological practices. The field visit was concluded with demonstration of compost creation and net-house vegetables presented by SSLA’s farmers at the field.
“As a result of the visit, we are delighted to see that H.E. Dr. Chan Saruth is interested in the work of SSLA to cooperate to implement and train vegetable cultivation techniques through the practice of conservation agriculture and agro-ecology in Ta Saang Agricultural Training and Extension Center, Svay Rieng Province,” said Mr. Thol Buntha, ALiSEA National Secretariat in Cambodia. “ALiSEA team strongly hopes that ALiSEA will be able to cooperate with CASIC in other important activities in the future.”
The visit was co-organized by CASIC, ALiSEA, and SSLA as a part of CASIC’s Second Steering Committee Meeting of 2023 in Battambang and Pailin provinces. The visit marks a significant milestone in CASIC and ALiSEA’s engagement with the regional networks, demonstrating their commitment to advancing agroecological practices and policies in Cambodia. During this inaugural joint field visit, CASIC and the ALiSEA network had the opportunity to foster mutual understanding and shared interests in sustainable agricultural and food systems. This collaborative effort sets the stage for future partnerships and synergies.