Cambodian rice millers' knowledge about foreign markets remains limited and needs to be further improved. Exporters of agricultural commodities such as rice, cassava, cashew nuts must strengthen networking to compete with their neighbors. Trade mainstreaming must also take deeper roots at the policy level followed by better coordination among governmental bodies to help the sector grow.  

By taking strategic steps now to diversify its economic base, invest more in human capital, and promote an inclusive growth to narrow urban-rural income gap, Cambodia can become more resilient against economic distress as seen in the recent global financial crisis, said Mr. Ajay Chhibber, UN Assistant Secretary-General and UNDP Assistant Administrator and Regional Director for Asia and the Pacific.  

A new climate program funded by Swedish International Development Agency (Sida) has been initiated to assist rural households in Cambodian provinces in improving food security in the age of climate change.  

Three years ago, Hun Bunra was just a rank-and-file staff member pushing paper work at a local department in Kampong Speu. Today, he sees himself as an “advisor” quite equipped with ability to teach other provincial employees like himself how to monitor and evaluate their work. “It is important to pass on the knowledge to others” to benefit both their personal and professional development, he said.

When he was asked to try new rice seeds thought to be able to withstand harsh weather conditions, Cambodian farmer Sorn San had some doubts. After consulting with his wife, he, however, decided to allocate two 100-square-metre plots in his paddy field to plant the new seeds in July 2010.