Cambodian Conservation Agriculture Research for Development Center (CARDEC)

The Cambodian Conservation Agriculture Research for Development Center (CARDEC) officially launched its five-year strategic roadmap on November 14, 2022. The event was organized by the General Department of Agriculture and presided over by H.E. Om Kimsir, Secretary of State at the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries, and Chairman of the Executive Board of CASIC (Conservation Agriculture Sustainable Intensification Consortium).

Cambodia’s first research activities related to Conservation Agriculture (CA) began in 2004 under the Crop Diversification and Smallholder Rubber Development Project (SRDP) Phase 2, funded by the French Development Agency (AFD). The project was implemented by the General Directorate of Rubber of MAFF (Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries) in collaboration with the French Agricultural Research Centre for International Development (CIRAD). Over the years, Cambodia has built essential technical expertise through experimentation and testing of cropping systems for upland annual crops, as well as the development of a cover crop genetic bank. This initiative marked the beginning of crop genetic conservation in Bos Khnor commune, Kampong Cham province.

Through continuous development, the research station in Bos Khnor has evolved into what is now the Cambodian Conservation Agriculture Research for Development Center (CARDEC).