Successful kick-off to SATNET field visit in Cambodia

The second SATNET Intraregional Visit for Smallholder Value Chain Actors got underway in Cambodia on Tuesday, 5^th August 2014 in collaboration with the Cambodian Center for Study and Development in Agriculture (CEDAC). There are 19 participants representing farmer organizations, extension workers, grassroots NGOs and government departments from Cambodia, Lao PDR, Indonesia and Myanmar taking part in the visit which focuses on crop production technologies, Integrated Pest Management (IPM) and post-harvest and marketing. 
   

CEDAC President sharing learnings
from Centre's work

The first day was devoted to a meeting in which the participants were welcomed by the President of CEDAC and provided an overview of the SATNET project as well as the objectives of the visit in the morning session. Subsequently, they took turns to brief each other about the work they do in their own countries to promote sustainable agricultural practices, their priorities and constraints, and expectations from this visit.

Opening day of the Cambodia visit

In the afternoon, CEDAC staff presented about some of the key programmes of the Center. Among the leading NGOs in Cambodia, CEDAC has supported 160,000 families (8% of total farm households in the country) from over 72,000 villages. The participants learnt about the Centre’s initiatives in the areas of System of Rice Intensification (SRI), organization of organic rice and vegetable producers, establishment of self-reliant saving groups, and linking of farmers to markets which have given them greater ownership and control over the entire value chain. This discussion was very interactive with the participants asking for more information and sharing their own perspectives. Over the next couple of days, the participants will also see many of these programmes in action in farmer fields as part of the site visits.

The day ended with all participants joining for a pleasant river boat ride and city tour in Phnom Penh!