Improving the marketing system for maize and soybeans in Cambodia

• Ministry of Commerce, Cambodia
• Cambodian Development Resource Institute, Cambodia

Agriculture in Cambodia has been dominated by rice, much of it grown by smallholder subsistence farmers. The Royal Government of Cambodia has set poverty reduction and improved rural development as top priorities. To achieve this Government is focusing on the development of commercial, export-oriented agriculture. Diversification in cropping from rice is one component of this work. Among non-rice crops maize and soybean are particularly important. Both have, after rubber, the highest export potential, but marketing arrangements for the two crops are largely informal and poorly developed. Constraints include postharvest inefficiency, inadequate information flows, high transport costs and lack of external market linkages, with Thailand and Vietnam representing the main external markets. For export potential to be realised these constraints need to be overcome.

ACIAR is supporting complimentary research both to improve maize and soy production and help in crop diversification. Strengthening and developing marketing systems is needed to ensure the increased productivity delivers the benefits of exporting to nearby markets. Mapping of the marketing system, including supply chains and the institutional environment will substantially aid in identifying areas for development and focus by key stakeholders as they address constraints to the system's development.

The project aims to improve the well-being of participants of the maize and soybean marketing systems, with particular attention being given to the well-being of rural families and rural development by:

mapping the existing (formal and informal) marketing systems for maize and soybeans and its institutional environment (governmental and infrastructural), to identify the constraints and capacities for change and to evaluate the potential for improvement;
facilitating a process of change within these marketing systems; and
enhancing the capacity of relevant people and institutions in Cambodia.

Mapping marketing system beginning with the design of instruments for mapping. Start of mapping in Cambodia including travel to Thailand and Vietnam. Analysis of the data from mapping the maize marketing system.
Capacity-building through a 2-week course in Phnom Penh for Cambodian members of research team and researchers in the two related ACIAR projects in Cambodia. Meet with project members of the other 2 ACIAR projects to share information.
Plan, initiate and monitor pre-workshop 1 activities, followed by Workshop 1 - maize. Research team to debrief after workshop to plan follow-up research.
Follow-up mapping research on the main research issues to arise from Workshop 1.
Plan, initiate and monitor pre-workshop 2 activities, followed by Workshop 2 - soybean. Research team to debrief after workshop to plan follow-up research.
Follow-up mapping research on the main research issues to arise from Workshop 2.
Plan, organise and run Project Forum for stakeholders. Write-up final report, extension publication, conference presentations.