ii

iii

ABSTRACT

Extension service plays an important role in increasing agricultural production.

Agriculture extension provides farmer with not only technical knowledge and information

relation market and improve agriculture practices but also establishes cooperative in order

to improve common understanding and goal of farmers. Generally, agriculture extension is

conducted with various scopes such technical extension, marketing extension, advisory

extension and farmers’ association via difference means such non formal education and,

facilitation extension. Agriculture extension in Cambodia is very young. The farmers still

have been applying traditional way to do farming. There is limited organization to do

research and development while the way to transfer knowledge to farmer is also narrow.

The study attempted to explore the overall objectives through the use of secondary

data. The finding illustrated that the agriculture extension in Cambodia is applied via only

technical extension. There is no facilitation extension. The research and development is

conducted by only RUA, PNSA and CARDI. There is very small participation from farmer

while the research is conducted via only support from various projects of NGOs, DPs. More

significantly, agriculture extension can produce only technical work while there is very small

impact on marketing extension, farmer association and advisory extension. The roots of these

issues are technical support, policy support and financial support.

To address the concerns, government of Cambodia should improve policy to make

sure that there is a concrete channel between national level, under national level and farmer.

In addition, MAFF should improve its activities by accelerate the participation of farmer with

R&D so that all key findings of research and experiments can meet the needs of farmer and

the farmers themselves can apply it effectively. More importantly, government of Cambodia

should mobilize more budgets to support this sector to make sure that there are sufficient

human resources to work with farmer and their activities are active effectively.

iv

TABLE OF CONTENTS

TITLE PAGE ............................................................................................................................ .i

APPROVAL SHEET ............................................................................................................... .ii

ABSTRACT ............................................................................................................................ iii

ACKNOWLEDGMENT ......................................................................................................... iv

TABLE OF CONTENTS ......................................................................................................... v

LIST OF FIGURES ................................................................................................................. vii

LIST OF ACRONYMS .......................................................................................................... viii

CHAPTER I

INTRODUCTION

1.1 Background of the study ....................................................................................................... 1

1.2 Statement of the problem ...................................................................................................... 4

1.3 Objectives of the study ......................................................................................................... 4

1.4 Significance of the study ...................................................................................................... 4

1.5 Scope and delimitation ......................................................................................................... 5

CHAPTER II

REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE AND DISCUSSION

2.1 Review of related literature .................................................................................................. 6

2.1.1 What is Agriculture Extension?.................................................................................. 6

2.1.2 Why Agriculture Needs Extension? ........................................................................... 7

2.1.3 Channels of Agriculture Extensions..………………………………… … …….…10

2.1.4 Role of Agriculture Extension …………………………………………………….12

2.2 Discussion .......................................................................................................................... 12

v

2.2.1 Research Question 1: what is current status of agriculture extension in Cambodia?

........................................................................................................................................... 12

2.2.1 Research Question 2: What are obstacles for agriculture extension development in

Cambodia? ......................................................................................................................... 16

CHAPTER III

CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION

3.1 Conclusion .......................................................................................................................... 20

3.2 Recommendation ................................................................................................................ 22

REFRENCES ........................................................................................................................... 26

vi

LIST OF FIGURES

Page

Figure1. Barriers to fully adopt new agricultural technologies .................................................. 2

Figure2. Extension Service Worker Education and Training Requirements....... …………….15

Figure3. Major providers of Agricultural Extension Services……………………………… 17

vii

LIST OF ACRONYMS

CARDI Cambodia Agriculture Research and Development Institution

CBO Community Base Organization

CEW Commune Extension Worker

DAE Department of Agriculture Extension

DAO District Agriculture Office

DP Development Partner

FAO Food and Agriculture Organization

GDA General Department of Agriculture

ICT Information Communication Technology

INGO International Non-Government Organization

KCNSA Kampong Cham National School of Agriculture

MAFF Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries

MoWRAM Ministry of Water Resources

MPTC Ministry of Public Transportation and Communication

MRD Ministry of Rural Development

NGO Non-Government Organization

NIS National Institute of Statistic

PDA Provincial Department of Agriculture

PNCA Preakleap National College of Agriculture

RGC Royal Government of Cambodia

RUA Royal University of Agriculture

VEW Village Extension Worker

1

CHAPTER I

INTRODUCTION

1.1 Background of the study

Agriculture has traditionally been a steady contributor to the national economy, employing a

significant proportion of the rural workforce and generating substantial foreign exchange

earnings. Agriculture remains an important sector of the Cambodian economy. It contributes

about one-third of the GDP and employs about 60 percent of the labor force. Approximately

80 percent of the population lives in rural areas and over 90 percent of the poor who live in

rural areas rely on agriculture for their livelihood. Transformation of the agriculture sector

will lead to economic growth and poverty alleviation. “Promoting agriculture and

agroindustry is widely recognized as the best strategy for broadening the economic base to

offset macroeconomic shocks, ensures food security, improve rural people’s livelihoods and

reduce poverty.” (Tong, Socheth and Paulo, 2011)

Extension service plays an important role in increasing agricultural production. Extension

provides farmers with technical knowledge and information related to improved agricultural

practices. Most developing countries have established agricultural extension services to

promote the use of modern inputs to increase agricultural production, such as new seed

varieties, fertilizer, and pesticides by training farmers, organizing method and result

demonstrations, and making extensive use of mass media. However, agriculture in Cambodia

has been developed via traditional way due to lack of technology support, research and

development and extension service. While Cambodia is a developing country that strongly

depends on agriculture, Extension is very important for the poor, especially farmer.

2

The poor and vulnerable people need extension services and technology support for

improving food and income generation through intensification and diversification of crops,

livestock, water supply, aquaculture and agro-forestry. The poor and vulnerable groups are

generally poor and limited access of extension services, technology and resources (land,

credit, inputs, etc.).

The current problems of agriculture in Cambodia are not only production but also marketing.

The agriculture production is not produce for only local consumption but to produce the

surplus for export. However, the knowledge of farmer is still limited while agriculture

technology is poor. Farmer still does farming follow traditional way. Based on a research of

USAID on Strengthening Agricultural Extension Service in Cambodia found that there are

very small amount of farmer has education or skill to adopt the new technology. They are

hard to access for information about agriculture technology and they almost don’t know at all

about agriculture market (see figure 1)

Figure 1: Barriers to fully adopt new agricultural technologies

Barriers N Mean*

My farm has no access to irrigation 2,226 3.86

I do not have sufficient knowledge or details about the new technology 2,234 3.60

I do not have the education or skills to adopt the new technology 2,229 3.48

I do not have access to market for my product 2,2111 3.37

I cannot get credit needed to adopt the new technology 2,222 3.29

3

The agricultural technology is not suitable to my farm 2,230 2.93

My farm is too small 2,226 2.81

I do not own the land which I farm 2,225 2.59

Other reason 472 2.23

Scales: 1= Not at all important, 2= A little important, 3=Neutral, 4=Somewhat important, 5=

Very important

(Murari, 2010), USAID Cambodia, Strengthening Agricultural Extension Services in

Cambodia)

In addition, the research and development in agriculture sector has not been advance

developed yet. The government also have insufficient budget to support extension activities

such human resource and facilities. Policy and strategy to support the extension are also not

concretely support. Moreover, the information sharing is also the problems. Cambodia cannot

manage information regarding extension in each area. The farmer cannot share information or

technology each other.

As a result, the farmer still cannot produce surplus, they can produce for local consumption

only. Some crops, especially agro-industry, also have problems even there is surplus. Farmer

cannot access to market information. Therefore, they don’t know market demand. In addition,

Thailand and Vietnam that are advance agriculture countries are main competitors of

Cambodia. The season of doing farming also happens at the same schedule. Moreover, the

surplus of agriculture production depends on export with raw material form because

Cambodia has no processing factory.

4

Moreover, the relationship between agricultural extension and agricultural research is also

limited. CARDI and RUA are leading organizations working on Research and Development

on Agriculture. However, some version or key findings cannot be spread to farmer because of

the lack of communication means while internet and phone network are still higher cost.

1.2 Statement of the problem

This study attempted to explore in-depth understanding on the agriculture extension

development in Cambodia. Specifically, it sought to answer the following questions:

1- What is the current status of agriculture extension in Cambodia?

2- What are the obstacles for agriculture extension for development in Cambodia

1.3 Objectives of the study

This research study aims to achieve the following objectives:

- To illustrate the current situation of agriculture extension in Cambodia

- To explore the obstacles and problems that effect to agriculture extension in Cambodia

1.4 Significance of the study

The stakeholders who will benefit for this research are both government and private sectors

such MAFF, MRD, MoWRAM, CARDI, INGOs/NGOs and private companies who work

relevance to agriculture sector. The key findings of this research will help agriculture

sector as follows:

- Improve understanding about definition and significant of agriculture extension

- Get to known the current situation of agriculture extension including strong and

weakness so that stakeholders can set its plan to identify any spaces to improve this

sector.

- More importantly and the long term benefits, the key finding will give recommendation

to improve agriculture extension to develop more effectively and efficiently

5

- The research also provides final product to farmer that it will help them to have equity

and equality to access information about agriculture (status and technology), and

market.

- Cambodia, especially MAFF, will get to know where Cambodia agriculture extension is

and where should we go and what should we do. Cambodia can set milestone for its

action plan so that they can achieve the plan.

1.5 Scope and delimitation

Base on the objectives of study, this research will be done via secondary data only.

Relevance research including academic research papers and report of stakeholders will be

referenced for desk review. Policy of Agriculture Extension, developed by DAE of MAFF

will be the main document to verify data from other documents. Because the term of

extension looks very young in Cambodia, the study will illustrate and give

recommendations on only the basic concept of this sector.

6

CHAPTER II

REVIEW OF RELATED LITERATURE AND DISCUSSION

This chapter will level into two significant parts: first, it presents the brief literature

review and researches relevant to the present study; and second, it discusses the three research

questions.

2.1 Review of related literature

2.1.1 What is Agriculture Extension?

Extension, in general terms, is a function that can be applied to various areas of society. It operates in the

industrial, health and education sectors, as well as agricultural and rural development. Originally derived

from «university extension» (Mosher 1976), the term «extension» is therefore applicable to various areas of

development.

The use of the word "extension" derives from an educational development in England during the second

half of the nineteenth century. Around 1850, discussions began in the two ancient universities of Oxford

and Cambridge about how they could serve the educational needs, near to their homes, of the rapidly

growing populations in the industrial, urban area. It was not until 1867 that a first practical attempt was

made in what was designated "university extension," but the activity developed quickly to become a well-

established movement before the end of the century. Initially, most of the lectures given were on literary

and social topics, but by the 1890s agricultural subjects were being covered by peripatetic lecturers in rural

areas (Jones, 1994).

Agriculture is the art and science of cultivating the soil, growing crops and raising livestock.

It includes the preparation of plant and animal products for people to use and their distribution

7

to markets. Agriculture provides most of the world’s food and fabrics. Cotton, wool, and

leather are all agricultural products. Agriculture also provides wood for construction and

paper products.

Agricultural extension operates within a broader knowledge system that includes research and

agricultural education. Agricultural extension receives relevant information from the

agricultural education system and feeds back field observations to this system. Extension is

also professionally linked to the agricultural vocational and higher education systems in the

sense that these systems also produce the agents who work in extension. The relationship

between agricultural extension and agricultural research is even closer, because the

knowledge that agricultural extension transfers is usually generated by agricultural research

through applied and adaptive agricultural research development. Agriculture extension can

help farmer on various aspects such technical, marketing and farmer’s association.

2.1.2. Why Agriculture Needs Extension?

As above mentioned introduction, agriculture production is not for only local consumption,

but to product for surplus to export and to keep food security in the world. In order to export,

we need competition with other supplier especially neighboring advance agriculture countries

such Thailand and Vietnam. Therefore, agriculture in Cambodia strongly needs technical

support for higher production with better quality to meet market needs. More importantly,

agriculture needs to access to market information in order analyze opportunity and threaten so

that supplier can product follow demand in time and in needs. Moreover, agriculture needs

advisory activity. Most of farmers are under-education people. They have limited knowledge.

Therefore, farmers are hard to catch knowledge and more than hard to apply it. They need

enabling or advisory activity from expert so that they can apply technology effectively. In

8

addition, farmer association or cooperative is also important. Competition is always happen in

market. The price of agriculture product is also driven by business. As a result, the individual

farmer is a fragile for competition. Therefore, cooperative is very important for agriculture

production. However, it is not easy to establish and operate cooperative. We need a stronger

rule and internal regulation plus a concrete leadership. Thus, extension play a key role to

make cooperative operate well and avoid conflict within the team. There are various scheme

of agriculture extension such Technical Extension, Marketing Extension, Advisory Extension,

Farmer’s Association.

a. Technical Extension

Agriculture plays a significant role for Technical work. Agricultural and rural extension is the

responsibility of various technical and service units, and serves many purposes. The various

technical units within FAO indicate that agricultural extension is a function pursuing many

different purposes: livestock development, forest use and conservation, fisheries engineering

and capture, food and nutrition education, as well as crop development. Even in programmes

designed to foster agricultural crop production, extension may be concerned with providing

information on other crucial issues such as food storage development, processing, farm

management, and marketing. FAO has advocated and pursued all the above purposes of

agricultural and rural extension at some time or another.

This extension model was prevalent during colonial times and reemerged with intensity

during the 1970s and 1980s when the Training and Visit (T&V) system was established in

many Asian and Sub-Saharan African countries. This “top-down” model primarily delivers

specific recommendations from research, especially for the staple food crops, to all types of

farmers (large, medium, and small). This approach generally uses persuasive methods for

telling farmers which varieties and production practices they should use to increase their

9

agricultural productivity and thereby maintain national food security for both the rural and

urban populations in the country. The primary goal of this extension model is to increase food

production, which helps reduce food costs. As illustrated by North American and European

countries, as farming becomes increasingly commercialized, both technology development

and transfer will increasingly be privatized.

b. Marketing extension

Other purposes of agricultural and rural extension include marketing extension. Marketing

extension (Abbott 1984; FAO 1987, and Narayanan 1991) provides information on the post-

harvest treatment of specialty crops and provides an important service in countries trading in

food crops, including such fragile products such as bananas and cacao. Other, different types

of marketing information services referred to as «market extension» also exist; these services

provide information on variations in commodity prices; knowledge about where to sell some

products; information on problems to do with the quality, availability and prices of inputs, and

on the actual level of competition in the markets (Crowder 1997; Shepherd 1997). These

market information services should not be confused with marketing extension services that

aim at improving the preparation and process of moving agricultural goods to market.

c. Advisory Services

Both public extension workers and private-sector firms, in responding to specific farmer

inquiries about particular production problems, still commonly use the term advisory services.

In most cases, farmers are “advised” to use a specific practice or technology to solve an

identified problem or production constraint. Public extension organizations should have

validated information available from research about the effectiveness of different inputs or

methods in solving specific problems so that inquiring farmers receive objective and validated

10

information. Most input supply firms use persuasive advisory techniques when recommending

specific technical inputs to farmers who want to solve a particular problem and/or maintain

their productivity. Although most firms use persuasive methods to sell more products and

increase their profit, an alternative private-sector model is to support out-grower schemes

where export firms have field agents who both advise and supervise contract growers to

ensure that specific production inputs and practices are followed.

d. Farmers’ associations

Agricultural and rural extension services can also help farmers and produce processors to

organize themselves to meet their mutual agricultural interests. A long tradition in extension

is group promotion and group organization. Indeed, one of the Organization’s many ways of

promoting people’s participation in development is through independent agricultural and rural

development group associations (FAO 1994, 1995, 1997, 1998, 2000; Van Heck 1990).

Financing economic self-reliance and the participation of the members in their organization’s

activities is of central importance in such efforts to promote farmers’ organizations (FAO

1995; Rouse 1999).

2.1.3. Channels of Agriculture Extensions

The terms extension and advisory services can be used somewhat interchangeably, but the following

framework gives a useful perspective on the different approaches being pursued by different countries and

donors in organizing and implementing effective extension systems. This framework juxtaposes these

different terms or approaches by reviewing how the delivery of educational programs and

information/communication services takes place and why it takes place. In this framework, the options are

whether extension workers want to convince farmers what to do (i.e., persuasive methods) or whether they

seek to inform and educate farmers about different market opportunities, technical options, and/or

11

management strategies, and then let them decide which option would work best for them. Even thought,

extension can make agriculture work, it is not easy to operate extension service. The following

classifications illustrate different combinations that help describe and highlight important differences

between these different approaches or paradigms in organizing agricultural extension and advisory

services. There are 2 types of extension, Non Formal Education (NFE) and Facilitation Extension.

a. Non-formal Education

Non-formal Education (NFE) is a kind of education that deliver to farmer with informal way. In earlier

days of extension in Europe and North America, this paradigm dominated when universities gave training

to rural people who could not afford or did not have access to formal training in different types of

vocational and technical agriculture training. This approach continues to be used in most extension

systems, but the focus is shifting more toward training farmers how to utilize specific management skills

and/or technical knowledge to increase their production efficiency or to utilize specific management

practices, such as integrated pest management (IPM), as taught through Farmer Field Schools (FFS). Both

NFE and facilitation extension commonly help farmers with similar resources and interests to organize into

different types of producer or self-help groups, particularly if they want to learn how to diversify or

intensify their farming systems, especially in pursuing new, high-value crops or other products.

Facilitation Extension is a kind of participatory training approach that trainer and trainee

conduct need assessment and develop the solution together. This approach has evolved over

time from participatory extension methods used 20–30 years ago and now focuses on getting

farmers with common interests to work more closely together to achieve both individual and

common objectives. An important difference is that front-line extension agents primarily

work as “knowledge brokers” in facilitating the teaching–learning process among all types of

farmers and rural young people. Under this extension model, the field staff first works with

different groups of farmers (e.g., small-scale men and women farmers, landless farmers, etc.)

12

to first identify their specific needs and interests. Once their specific needs and interests have

been determined, then the next step is to identify the best sources of expertise (e.g., innovative

farmers who are already producing and marketing specific products, subject matter specialists,

researchers, private-sector technicians, rural bank representatives) that can help these different

groups address specific issues and/or opportunities.

2.1.4 Role of Agriculture Extension

The Extension services also play roles transferring of knowledge, information and technology

in four categories:

1. Cultural and production techniques, such as cultivation and husbandry techniques

(timing, planning and harvesting, use of inputs, crop management, pest management,

soil fertility management, water management and control, animal production and

health, post-harvest and farm-building design.

2. Farm management, such as record-keeping, financial and organization management,

legal/regulation issues, and business plan.

3. Market and processing information, such as prices and market options and

information, post-harvest and storage procedures, packaging techniques, transport and

quality and purity standards.

4. Community development, such as farmer organizations, agricultural community

development and farmer user community/groups…etc.

2.2 Discussion

The following presents the discussions of the three questions raised in this study:

2.2.1 Research Question 1: What is current status of agriculture extension in Cambodia?

Agricultural extension plays a key role to support this significant sector of the economy

remain limited – both in number of extension agents as well as the level of training.

Nationwide, Cambodia has 1,244 extension staff; among those, 58 serve as senior

13

management and 66 are subject matter experts (SMEs), with the remaining 1,120 comprising

field extension providers.

The vision of the royal government of Cambodia (RGC) is to modernize Cambodia’s

agriculture by increasing value added in the sector and promoting agricultural value chain

responsiveness to market demand and regional and global competition. In this context, the

RGC continues to focus on enhancing agricultural productivity, diversification, and

commercialization; promoting livestock farming and aquaculture, sustainable forestry and

fisheries resources management; and strengthening institutional capacity, enhancing

efficiency of support services, and developing human resources in the agricultural sector.

To achieve this vision requires application of new techniques, technology, and innovations;

technically sound use of agricultural inputs and mechanisms; competent and effective human

resources to support, provide services, and coordinate; and technology, methods, and

sufficient and appropriate instruments as well as an enabling environment for farmers and

farming communities to access and adopt new techniques and technology effectively and

efficiently.

Two broad types of agricultural education institutions exist in Cambodia: formal and non-

formal institutions. Formal agricultural education institutions -- including universities (Royal

University of Agriculture), agricultural schools (Preak Leap National Agriculture Institute and

Kampong Cham National School of Agriculture), and agricultural training centers -- offer

undergraduate and graduate degrees, Non-formal agricultural education (agricultural

extension to address topics related to crops, livestock, aquaculture, and others) is provided by

many agencies, including the Department of Agricultural Extension, the Regional Agriculture

Research and Training Centers of GDA, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), farmer

14

promoters, commercial traders, and input suppliers. RUA and PNCA is mainly focus on

research and development. They try to find out new technology to support farmer. Therefore,

the teaching program strongly encourages student to do research rather than applying.

However, KCNSA is the lowest level of agriculture school in Cambodia. This school focuses

on applying rather than research and development. In addition, there are other organization

that is working on research and development, CARDI (Cambodia Agriculture, Research and

Development Institution). CARDI is government organization that is working under MAFF.

The main works are research and development, experiment and demonstration.

MAFF created the Department of Agricultural Extension (formerly called the Department of

Techniques, Economics and Extension) through Sub-degree No. 43 signed on May 17th, 1995

to implement agricultural extension activities. In 2000 Department name was changed to

Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) through Sub-degree No. 17 signed on 7th April

7th, 2000 as well as Sub-degree 188 signed on November 4th, 2008. This department was

established of developing a demand-driven, district-implemented, provincially-managed and

centrally-overseen extension system appropriate to the needs of Cambodia. The mission is to

promote the quantity (yield) and quality of agricultural productions of Cambodia in a

sustainable way by providing effective leadership, support and improving human capacity for

a decentralized provincial based agricultural extension service managed by provincial

department of agriculture and implemented through District Agriculture Offices (DAOs) and

field extension agents.

There are four principal functions of extension is considered to use in Cambodia:

1. Participatory assessment or Diagnosis of farmer socio-economic and agro-ecological

condition of their constraints, opportunities and the needs.

15

2. Technology or message transfer through trainings, participatory technology

development, mass media, awareness creation, skill development and education.

3. Provide feedback to researchers, scientists and policy makers on farmer reactions to

new technology to refine future research agenda.

4. Development of linkages with researchers, policy makers, NGOs, service providers,

farmer’s organizations, credits and micro-finance, etc.

Cambodia’s agricultural extension service will have at least four types of agricultural

extension workers: agricultural extension specialists, agricultural extension advisors,

commune extension workers (CEWs), and village extension workers (VEWs). For these

extension workers to be effective in the various roles, a recommended minimum level of

education and/or training shall be required for each type of extension worker. The intent is for

extension personnel to be well-trained, skilled, motivated, and empowered to perform their

duties. All professional extension staff members assigned at a district agricultural office and

above will have at least an associate degree. Extension staff members will receive regular in-

service training at regional agricultural research and training institutes on emerging important

issues. Each year, selected extension staff members will receive scholarships to advance their

training in their respective fields. (See figure 2)

Figure 2: Extension Service Worker Education and Training Requirements

Type of extension workers Minimum educational requirements

1. Agricultural extension specialist 4-year bachelor’s degree in agriculture +

a 6- to 9-month extension diploma

2. Agricultural extension advisor 2-year diploma + a 3- to 6-month

extension skills course

3. Commune extension worker (CEW) 2-month extension course and technical

skills

4. Village extension worker (VEW) 2-week training on extension methods

and technical skills

16

(Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (2015), Agricultural Extension Policy in

Cambodia)

2.2.3 Research Question 2: What are obstacles for agriculture extension development in Cambodia?

Problems/issues facing agricultural extension services in Cambodia were found by Food and

Agriculture Organization (FAO) via one day workshop. The participants that full of scholar,

academic people and expert of agriculture contribute their idea that the current obstacles for

agriculture extension development in Cambodia such: Limited of human resource in

extension, Budget constrain for extension, Lack of materials and infrastructure, Lack of

coordination and communication, management of extension service, No innovation or lack of

new technologies, Lack of extension policy and regulation, insufficient of participation from

local people.

RGC-provided agricultural extension services for smallholder farmers are minimal. The

availability of agricultural services for smallholder farmers is attributed predominantly to

assistance from donors and NGOs. According to Sothath and Sophal (2010) the duplication of

agricultural services provided by the government, donors and NGOs is common in villages,

and there are also indications that services do not reach all households in need of extension

advice within the same village. Although such duplication is not necessarily bad for farmers,

it is not an indication of efficiency or of a fair distribution of resources/public services, as

farmers in other parts of the country are still underserved. Given the limited coverage of

extension services offered by private and civil society organizations, MAFF has made

substantial efforts over the years to strengthen and expand public agricultural extension

services. (See figure 3)

17

Figure 3: Major providers of Agricultural Extension Services

Agriculture Service Providers N

MAFF

Extension

Professional/

Workers

CCC/CC

Member/Villag

e Chief &

Asst.VC

NGO/ING

O/Projects

Staff &

Other

Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and

Fisheries

115 22 72 21

Ministry of Rural Development 57 10 39 8

Ministry of Water Resources and

Meteorology

49 6 36 7

Ministry of Women Affaires and Veterans 61 10 42 9

Cambodian Agricultural Research and

Development Institute (CARDI)

29 7 16 6

Donor funded project such as

USAID/HARVEST, JICA, GIZ ….

32 9 19 4

NGOs in the area 71 13 48 10

Agriculture colleges/university, Cambodia 14 4 9 1

Other organization (s) 25 4 15 6

I don’t know any 10 3 4 3

(Murari Suvedi (June 201), USAID Cambodia, Strengthening Agricultural Extension Services

in Cambodia)

The majority of agricultural personnel in Cambodia are working at the provincial level, with a

small percentage of them assigned to district Offices of Agriculture, which have no annual

18

budget to deliver agricultural services to farmers but work as counterparts on donor and

NGO’ projects. The public extension comprises 1,244 staff members and is managed by a

team of 58 senior staff according to the MEAS report (2011). Women account for 21% of

senior management staff. There are 66 subject matter specialists (26 % female) and 1,120

Field level extension workers. This last group constitutes the bulk of staff (90%). There are

two other groups of workers: Information, Communication & Technology (ICT) Support Staff

and In-Service Training Staff.

Currently, although significant research and development and extension of agricultural

techniques have been undertaken by a number of stakeholders, access to and adoption of new

techniques and technology by farmers and farming communities is quite limited. This has

resulted in slow growth of productivity, slow economic growth and poverty reduction, and

farmers abandoning agricultural work, selling farmland and out-migrating to find other jobs

for their livelihood. These problems arise because of lack of or limited agricultural extension

services, regulations, and system; lack of human resources, funding, techniques, and

technology; lack of extension materials and packaging; and limited agricultural extension

methodology and means. “farmers’ lack of familiarity and limited knowledge of non-rice

crops as well as unpredictable rainfall have led to the perception that diversifying paddy field

to cultivate other crops is highly risky” (ACIAR, 2011)

There are many teams manage agriculture extension activities. The team contain of

Department of Agricultural Extension, Provincial Department of Agriculture, District

Agricultural Offices, Subject Matter Specialist Department/institution, Field Extension agents.

However, the budget support to deliver extension activity is too tight. Most of budget is

supported by NGOs/DPs only. As a result, upon the completion of project of each NGO/DPs,

19

the activities of extension operator is always halted. MAFF expenditure less than 5 percent is

allocated to research and less than 3 percent on extension. Links between research, extension,

farmers and markets must also be strengthened to facilitate the adoption of new technologies.

An example of this would be promotion of the appropriate use and availability of quality

fertilizers and pesticides as well as marketing information to sustain increased yields and

quality production.

20

CHAPTER III

CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION

This chapter presents the conclusion and recommendation set forth by this study.

The current agricultural extension system is facing numerous problems, such as limited

supporting system and regulations, and lack of human resources, funding, technique and new

technology, appropriate technology package, agricultural extension materials, and facilitation

skills.

3.1 Conclusion

Based on key findings of this research study found that agriculture extension in Cambodia is

very limited including technical support, policy support and financial support. There are very

limited organization that is working on Research and Development of agriculture technology.

RUA and PNAC are organizations that have multiple roles to work on both education

provision and conducting research. However, the way of their research is small scale via

academic only. They cannot do research with bigger scale because their budget is come from

tuition fee only. In addition, we can see CARDI plays a very important role to do research and

development, especially experiment and demonstration. However, this organization is hardly

disseminate its key findings to farmer due to the lack of budget and means to transfer

knowledge to farmer and insufficient advisory service to enable farmer to apply it. More

importantly, marketing and cooperation extension are very poor in Cambodia. Farmer is hard

to do farming because they don’t the market needs. This is a reason that makes farmers have a

higher risks even they can produce surplus. The price of agriculture produce depends on only

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middleman or businessmen. Every year the price also very low for any agriculture goods that

has higher production. Additionally, Cambodia has almost nothing on agriculture processing.

Farmer has very limited capacity and knowledge on post-harvest while Cambodia has no

processing. As a result, Cambodia needs to export agriculture product as the raw material

form.

Policy to support extension is also limited. Currently, there is only one policy, Policy of

Agriculture Extension, which is supporting this sector. This policy strongly focuses on

national level (MAFF) not under national level. As a result, there are many problems to link

from national level to farmer. Example, the key findings of CARDI, RUA and PNAC are hard

to disseminate to farmers.

Financial support is the most important challenge. Currently, extension officer of MAFF exist

at only district level. Therefore, they cannot cover all farmers. Their activity also limited.

They can do activity whenever there is support from stakeholders via NGO’s projects only.

Without support, they cannot go to field to work with farmer. In addition, some NGO and DP

also provide training to farmer and develop them to become extension worker. However, we

see that their activities also stop when project of NGOs completed.

The other important finding of this study is that all activity of extension in Cambodia is

conducted via technical extension only. We cannot see facilitation extension. The activity is

implemented via top down approach. It mean that CARDI, RUA, PNAC conduct research and

experiment without participation of farmer. So extension officer can do only motivation

farmer to apply it even though farmers don’t need it. In addition, extension of marketing,

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advisory and cooperative are very limited. Farmers are hard to access to market’s information

while advisory activity of government is limited due to the lack of budget support for existing

extension worker. The production of farmer is sketchy. Farmers do farming and sell their

product individually. There is no cooperative.

As a result, Cambodia is hard to compete with neighboring advance agriculture technology

nations like Thailand and Vietnam. More importantly, the agriculture products are hard to

product value add due there is no processing in Cambodia. Therefore, the surplus produce are

export as the raw material form. However, under the best afford of government and supports

from stakeholders such DP, NGO, CSOs, Business, agriculture extension is moving forward.

The roots of problems for this sector are lack of research and development, insufficient

3.2 Recommendation

Addressing above mentioned problems requires preparation, strengthening, and supports such

mechanisms and regulations, development of human resources, techniques, and technology,

as well as methods and means to provide extension services on the basis of demand by users

and markets. If the RGC promotes and increases investment in agricultural extension, labor

productivity in the agricultural sector and land productivity will increase significantly. Thus,

agricultural extension in Cambodia is the foundation and guide to providing effective

agricultural extension services for farmers and farming communities to make well-grounded

decisions that will increase productivity, diversify and commercialize agriculture, and

increase income.

1- The MAFF should addressing issues by formulating the agricultural extension policy,

which is an essential instrument to organize, strengthen, and support mechanisms,

regulations, human resource development, techniques and technology development,

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and methods and approaches for delivering agricultural extension services in order to

meet farmers’ needs and market demands. This solution will serve as a foundation for

and provide direction toward effective service delivery to famers and farming

communities so that they can make the right decisions for their production operations

and agricultural commercialization to generate and increase household income.

2- Agricultural forum should be established at district level. The Provincial Department

of Agriculture (PDA), should support of the DAE, should create a forum at the district

agriculture office (DAO) level in which diverse stakeholders in agriculture are

represented. This platform will be used to promote and coordinate the creation of

networks and linkages between service provider (Extension officer) and farmer. More

importantly, this forum is also a good opportunity to link networks between the

successful or the best practice farmers with other farmers who want to improve their

activities. The DAO, should support of the PDA, will facilitate agreements and

agricultural work and mainstream these into the commune development plan and

investment plan process, discussed in district integration workshops, and should

facilitate meetings or forums with agricultural extension services providers at the local

level.

3- The DAE should develop an agricultural extension hub, which will include creating an

Information and Communication Technologies and Mass Media Center and an online

network of extension workers at provincial and district levels. The DAE also should

collect and disseminate/circulate new information and techniques to the network in a

timely manner. Information and communication technologies (ICT) are quite popular

in Cambodia. Today, approximately one third of the country's total population uses

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social media, like Facebook (VOA, 2016), and each Cambodian has at least one cell

phone to use for communication purposes.

4- ICT should be considered as a vehicle to increase the outreach of agricultural

extension capacity in Cambodia in this era of technology. One key reason to focus on

ICT in Cambodia is the widespread accessibility of cell coverage and other smart

devices. The reach of these services has rapidly spread nationwide in the last decade.

According to Ministry of Post and Telecommunication of Cambodia (MPTC), there

are currently 11 different companies providing excommunication services, with nine

companies operating fixed phone services. Six of the fixed phone service companies

also run mobile phone services, along with three other companies. Cell phone

coverage is listed at 140 percent of total population with many utilizing more than one

phone (MPTC, 2015).

5- Government of Cambodia should facilitate the lower cost of telecommunication on

agricultural program broadcasting. All telecommunication operators provide

reasonable prices, making it accessible for much of the population, and particularly

farmers. The data of NIS (2013) also show that 32.8 percent of the total population has

radio and 65.6 percent of the total population has a TV. There are 13 local TV stations,

and a number of TV channels have agriculture programs and most of these channels

broadcast agriculture programming on weekends only. For radio, there are

approximately 188 frequencies broadcasting nationwide (DMC, 2014). According to

Roberts (2011), approximately 79 percent of Cambodian people used radio and TV as

the main source of getting information. (Pandey 2011).

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6- The government of Cambodia should strengthened and adequately resourced, and will

play a role in extension quality assurance by developing and implementing new

guidelines and regulations for extension services providers, and by promoting strong

collaboration and networking among development partners (DPs), NGOs, CBOs,

universities, and private service partners. To this end, it is recognized that

development partners, NGOs, research and educational institutions, input suppliers,

private companies, CBOs, expert farmers, farmer promoters, consultants/agricultural

agents, and possibly religious institutions all are important players in provision of

agricultural extension services. “Opportunities exist for cost effective increases in

Government support to agricultural research and extension.” H.E. Margaret Adamson,

Ambassador of Australia to Cambodia, in his speech in 3rd Cambodia Development

Cooperation Forum on June, 2010, Session of Agriculture Productivity and

Diversification.

7- Government should facilitate to increase private investment on agriculture

development. It is recognized that the private sector generally has a profit motive and

operates in a different way than the public sector. In certain aspects, private services

are better prepared and implemented independently from government. As one of

several extension services providers, however, the private sector must be operating

within the regulatory framework of the government.

8- Research and development of new technologies that respond to farmers’ needs are

important contributors to ensuring vibrant extension services. Currently, a

considerable amount of research and development is publicly funded by GDA field

research stations and agricultural research and development institutes such as

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Cambodia Agriculture and Rural Development Institute (CARDI) and other research

institutes. Agricultural extension content and messages will be demand-driven.

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Murshid, K.A.S. (July 2012), Food Security in an Asian Transitional Economy: The

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Murari Suvedi (June 201), USAID Cambodia, Strengthening Agricultural Extension

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Mak Soeun (July 2014), Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, Department of

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http://www.cdc-

crdb.gov.kh/cdc/third_cdcf/session2/agriculture_productivity_and_deversification/agricult

ure_statement_en.htm

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