Agricultural project receives $66mn new funding for extension

Tonle Sap Poverty Reduction and Smallholders Development (TSSD) will receive additional $66mn from the government and international funders for the next several years, after the success in its initial seven-year period. TSSD was started in 2010 with funds from the government, Asian Development Bank (ADB), International Fund for Agriculture Development (IFAD) and Finland, totaling $50.85mn. Targeting 1,2000 smallholder farmer groups in 28 districts in five target provinces—Banteay Meanchey, Siem Reap, Kampong Thom, Kampong Cham and Tbong Khmum—the project had improved the livelihoods of about 60,000 families. According to Sam Chhom Sangha, deputy secretary-general of the Ministry of Agriculture, the second stage would expand to two more provinces, Prey Veng and Battambang, and focus more on irrigation. Meng Sakphouseth, IFAD’s country program officer, said there were many projects joining the sector with similar goals of developing the local horticulture industry. The challenges that need to be addressed will be production chain and market needs, he added. (Source: Phnom Penh Post)