• Society

Entrepreneurs Launch Plans for Climate-Resilient Agriculture 

• By Chhuon Kongieng
• December 29, 2023 2:30 PM

PHNOM PENH – Eight entrepreneurs will embark on a mission to help farmers who have been affected by climate change, low yields and limited markets. 

Out of 66 applications, eight outstanding business plans have been granted $5,000 each for implementation over 10 months in 2024 in Battambang, Banteay Meanchey, Oddor Meanchey and Preah Vihear provinces.

All the groups have come up with different products and solutions and focus on increasing crop production, soil care, credit provision as well as irrigation.

Four plans work on new and increased production. These include the Choam Ksan Meanchey Cooperative producing organic rice, cassava and cashew nuts in Preah Vihear province.  

Ta Yem Seedling Soil provides seedling soil, KsSeed produces and distributes various kinds of seed, and Water Fuel generates energy through water to reduce fuel costs and emissions.

The other four groups work on solutions to extend the market, assure market prices, and provide agricultural credit for farmers, which include Laey Baitong, a market in Battambang province that buys organic food from farmers and sells it to the public or partners.

Oddar Meanchey Agricultural Cooperative Development Union connects farmers to markets and agricultural credit lending, AGRO Nature, a wholesaler and retailer of agricultural products focuses on reducing costs, and Rumdoul Tan Kam Agricultural Community provides agricultural credit in Banteay Meanchey province.

Eight outstanding business plans have been granted $5,000 each for implementation over 10 months in 2024. Photo: Impact Hub Phnom Penh

Thang Chermeng, entrepreneurship programs manager of the Khmer Agriculture for the Future Incubator, said the purpose of this collaboration and fund is to create a one-to-one network to support the entrepreneurs while helping the farmers.

The training program coached selected entrepreneurs so that they can extend their potential to find new ideas and practices for agriculture, he said.

“This project is between the entrepreneurs and the leaders of local farmers,” said Chermeng. 

“They work directly with the agriculture practitioners in the provinces. So, they can easily share each other their challenges and find solutions.”

Hul Hunsopheary, the lead mentor of the program, said collaboration not only helps the farmers but also provides advantages for the agriculture sector and the environment.

“The solutions are climate-resilient and help farmers to deal with low prices compared to other countries,” she said.

Thang Chermeng said the main challenge occurs when entrepreneurial teams approach the farmers to change their traditional ways, which is not easy. 

Although the first step in approaching them is hard, he believes that farmers will join hands after learning the benefits of the projects. He expects this collaboration will process well since the entrepreneurial teams have already met farmers and other partners.

The fund was supported by the Nurture Project, co-financed by Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation and is implemented by HEKS/EPER and CARITAS Swiss.