Extension activities in Cambodia began in 1957 when the Agriculture Ministry set up an extension unit that used television, radio and publications to disseminate information to farmers. The civil war in the 1970s devastated the country’s economy and all agricultural extension infrastructures were destroyed. The provision of agricultural extension services to farmers returned in 1986 with an extension office within the Agriculture Ministry and then the Department of Agriculture Extension (DAE) was established in 1995. With Australian assistance, the DAE developed national extension guidelines using a farming systems development approach rather than an emphasis on extension service. This required having small agriculture teams with a range of skills in district offices. For a full report on the pluralistic agricultural extension system in Cambodia, click HERE
Public SectorGovernmental or Ministry-based Extension Organizations
A Government extension network exists down to district level. Due to limited government funding, the level of activity is highly dependent on project funding. Funding at Ministerial level is from a combination of loan funds (ADB, WB), and Bilateral programs from a range of countries. All technical extension is provided directly from the technical departments. For example livestock extension is provided by the department of Animal Production. The Dept of Agricultural Extension has a twin role. DAE collects information at commune level about the major agricultural constraints and opportunities using a PRA technique called Agro-Ecosystem Analysis. The AEA can then be used to plan extension activities when funds are available. DAE also teaches extension techniques. In Cambodia’s decentralised governing system, the Provincial Departments of Agriculture (PDA) are an active provider of extension services. Again, these activities are dependent on the timing, location and subject of external funding streams. Public Research Institutions with Extension UnitUniversity-based ExtensionSemi-autonomous Governmental Extension Organizations | PROLINNOVA Cambodia - Participatory Innovation Development (PID)Non-Governmental OrganizationsWith literally hundreds of NGOs providing agricultural extension, this is the most active sector in Cambodia in terms of the number of farmers accessed. Farmer Based OrganizationsPublic-Private-PartnershipsPublic-Private-Partnerships
are also being employed by a number of bilateral projects (e.g. GTZ Greenbelt
Project, Siem Reap. IDE’s Farm Business Advisor model is a hybrid of the NGO/Private sector, that also maintains strong PDA linkage. Private Sector Organizations or FirmsA small but increasing market exists for extension provided through dedicated input sellers (e.g., seed suppliers, chemical sellers, large-scale collectors (e.g., animal feed raw materials), and contract farming companies. However, presently, there are probably not more than 1-2 examples in each of these categories. |
