The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) has announced two new partnerships with private firms to co-invest in cold chain, agricultural storage capacity, and logistics in Cambodia.
These partnerships will advance the country's economic competitiveness and inclusiveness by addressing gaps in the agricultural sector's supply chain, underlined a press release of USAID AKP received this evening.
Khmer Cold Chain Company (KCCC) and Amru Rice will develop, test, and operationalise agricultural cold chain storage and logistics capabilities and services in Cambodia, creating a secure, temperature-controlled supply chain, said the same source, adding tha the partnerships will address market system barriers to import-export opportunities, focusing on improving market access for smallholder farmers and woman- and youth-owned businesses.
"USAID's partnerships with Cambodian firms reduce their financial risk, so they can test and promote successful solutions and inspire investment in agriculture to increase regional and international trade integration," said Nancy J. Eslick, USAID/Cambodia Mission Director.
According to the press release, under the two-year partnership, KCCC, a Phnom Penh-based cold chain logistics and services company, will provide approximately US$1 million of its own funding and leverage an additional US$1 million in U.S. Government and private sector funding to operationalise its cold-storage facilities, allowing farmers to get better prices for their goods, sell internationally, and ensure consumers have access to high quality goods.
Amru Rice, a food producer and trader that exports rice, cassava, cashews, and pepper, will provide approximately US$600,000 of their own funding and leverage an additional US$400,000 in U.S. Government funding to establish on-site cold storage rooms near its headquarters and at its agricultural cooperatives’ sites, creating a decentralised cold storage and logistics network for its smallholder farmer suppliers. This innovative approach to the vegetable supply chain will grow Cambodian farmers' untapped potential to deliver high-quality produce to domestic and international markets, with the aim of improving food security, increasing smallholder farmer incomes, and reducing Cambodia's reliance on imported vegetables.
USAID's co-investment aims to expand Cambodia's economic development to rural households who remain vulnerable to food insecurity because of limited access to formal markets within Cambodia and beyond. USAID/Cambodia is committed to facilitating partnerships and activities that increase sales and job opportunities within the agricultural sector in Cambodia.
Source: Agency Kampuchea Press