We connect farmers with skills, knowledge and networks so they can raise more, sell more and earn more.
Agriculture is a cornerstone of Cambodia’s economy and provides livelihoods to most of its rural population. As an industry, agriculture is mainly subsistence-based, with farming heavily oriented toward household consumption and made more vulnerable to shocks, such as natural disasters and the COVID-19 pandemic. Additionally, a lack of tools, resources, infrastructure and access to financial services prevents smallholder farmers from growing their operations and accessing larger markets. Although agriculture has been identified as a strategic driver for progress, the potential benefits of the sector have not been maximized.
More than 60 percent of Cambodian households engage in farming, with growing crops, fish and poultry among the most prevalent activities. Raising poultry, in particular, supports an estimated 1.2 million households and holds immense potential for growth. Developing these key agricultural markets to improve production and farm management, strengthen business management skills, connect producers and buyers and incorporate technology can improve livelihoods and contribute to Cambodia’s broader economic goals. Agricultural cooperatives play a critical role in this work because they organize individuals to collectively generate employment, improve food security, alleviate poverty and raise social and economic standards in rural communities.
Heifer Cambodia supports and invests in smallholder farmers and their communities, developing market-led agricultural value chains in 14 provinces. This work is based on forging robust partnerships with cooperatives, government bodies, the private sector and financial service providers to create a supportive ecosystem for agricultural development. Our approach strengthens the institutional capacities of self-help groups and cooperatives, improving their effectiveness as business entities. It facilitates financing for infrastructure improvements and other investments and expands smallholder farmers’ agricultural productivity and access to buyers, bolstering their competitiveness in both local and premium markets.
In 2021, we collaborated with the Cambodian government’s Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries to form the Social Entrepreneurs Union of Agricultural Cooperatives, an organization of 15 cooperatives across six provinces engaged in our Poultry Project of National Pride in Cambodia. The union works nationally to broaden access to agricultural services, upgrade production quality and capacity, develop infrastructure and advocate for farmers’ interests.
Our primary objective is helping families achieve a sustainable living income, our measure for the amount of money required for a decent life — including safe shelter, nutritious food, clothing, education and health care — while also reaching additional benchmarks for economic and climate resilience.
Fish
Fruits & Vegetables
Poultry
Year Heifer launched in Cambodia
Household participants in 2024
Household participants to date
Heifer International’s work is organized at the country level into Signature Programs focused on a large-scale, measurable and sustainable impact achieved by building partnerships at all levels. Each program supports farmers through time-bound projects designed to increase their household income.
The Cambodia Vegetable Value Chain Development (CVCD) Signature Program is designed to reform vegetable farming using sustainable practices and advanced technologies such as superior seeds, solar water pumps, advanced grading, processing and packaging methods and digital business platforms. By 2027, this project will increase the productivity and market access of 10,150 households, increasing crop yields, promoting environmental sustainability and improving livelihoods.
The Poultry Project of National Pride in Cambodia Signature Program is working to restore Cambodia’s poultry industry by developing cooperative networks and integrating them into broader market systems. Targeting 88,300 households by 2026, this program improves the entire value chain from production to sale. It focuses on establishing infrastructure, such as processing operations and hatcheries, improving poultry health, breeding techniques, and market access to raise incomes for smallholder farmers, and promoting self-reliance in rural communities.
The Civil Society Organisations for Good Governance and Green Growth in Cambodia (CSO4G) project fosters community engagement, fair trade policies and sustainable agriculture to build a more equitable environment for smallholder poultry and vegetable farmers. Active in Siem Reap, Kampong Thom and Kampong Chhnang, the project helps farmers understand and use their rights to improve their lives and have a voice in decisions that affect their work and land.
It provides support so they can better manage their businesses and finances, advocate for their needs and farm in ways that are good for the environment. By integrating these practices into daily agricultural operations, Civil Society Organisations for Good Governance and Green Growth in Cambodia ensures farmers contribute to and benefit from sustainable development efforts, leading to improved livelihoods and community well-being.
Heifer International Cambodia has partnered with Aide et Action Southeast Asia to implement the Consortium for Sustainable Alternatives and Voice for Equitable Development (CSAVED) project in four coastal provinces: Kampot, Kep, Koh Kong and Preah Sihanouk.
The project supports farmers and community fisheries in building resilience through sustainable local economic development, improved service delivery and green growth initiatives to reduce poverty and inequality in the coastal provinces. The project also strengthens local groups and community fisheries, helping them work together and access better markets to reduce regional poverty and inequality.
In partnership with the Embassy of Japan, Heifer Cambodia is implementing Strengthening the Poultry Farming Value Chain in Two Provinces of Cambodia. This project aims to help poultry farmers and cooperatives transform traditional chicken production into sustainable, income-generating enterprises by modernizing coops and adopting climate-smart livestock technology through Heifer’s One Health approach.
It will assist 1,364 Kampong Thom and Siem Reap families, improving farmers’ skills and optimizing resources through Heifer’s Passing on the Gift® and the Revolving Fund Model — a system in which repaid loan funds are used for new loans, creating a sustainable cycle of support for the farming community.
