Kampong chhnang: The Royal Government of Cambodia inaugurated a new agricultural initiative on Thursday aimed at strengthening the nation’s rice seed sector and improving farmers’ resilience to climate change. H.E. Khim Finan, Under Secretary of State at the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, presided over the launch of the “Resilient Seeds for Farmers” project in Kampong Chhnang province.

According to Agence Kampuchea Presse, the three-year project, implemented by the Farmer and Nature Net Association (FNN) with funding from the FORRA Foundation, will focus on enhancing local systems for the production and distribution of high-yield traditional rice varieties. A key objective is to forge stronger market linkages throughout the rice seed value chain.

H.E. Khim Finan stated at the ceremony that this initiative is a critical step toward building modern agricultural communities that can supply high-quality rice seeds in large volumes at affordable prices. The project will be carried out in close partnership with the Camseed Modern Agricultural Community in Boribo district. This community, comprising over 200 households and managing nearly 500 hectares, specialises in producing rice seeds and vegetables using greenhouse technology.

The community has already received significant infrastructural support, including a US$160,000 investment from the Cambodia Agricultural Sector Diversification Project (CASDP). This funding, covering 40 percent of its total investment, has been allocated for dryers, storage facilities, greenhouses, transport vehicles, and combine harvesters.