Australia, through the Cambodia-Australia Agricultural Value Chain (CAVAC) programme, supports Cambodian Agricultural Research and Development Institute (CARDI) to genetically improve sweet potato germplasm from 36 samples taken in Takeo, Prey Veng and Preah Vihear provinces.

Sweet potato is a high-value crop in Cambodia. It has strong potential for export to key markets (like Australia and the EU), and can improve the livelihood, food security, nutrition, and income of farmers, according to the Australian Embassy in Cambodia.

“We aim to enhance and introduce varieties with good tuber quality and high yield for farmers to grow,” the embassy said in a Facebook post on Feb. 4.

Recently, CAVAC and CARDI conducted the tasting and selecting process of the best sweet potato varieties in Takeo.

Provincial Department of Agriculture, Forestry, and Forestry officials, farmers, traders, exporters and development partners were invited to the event for the taste evaluation of the steamed sweet potato, stated the embassy, adding that farmers were delighted and hope to grow the tested variety in their farms.

Source: Agency Kampuchea Press