Workshop to Promote the Use and Trade of Biological Control Agents in Cambodia

In collaboration with the Cambodian Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF), and USAID through the Cambodia HARVEST Programme, ASEAN Sustainable Agrifood Systems (ASEAN Biocontrol) organised a national workshop on the use and trade of biological control agents (BCA) on 22 May 2014 in Phnom Penh. The aim of the workshop was to raise awareness and share experiences on the use of BCA in promoting sustainable agricultural production, identify the needs of relevant stakeholders concerning regulation, commercialisation and application of BCA, and encourage networking among BCA experts in Cambodia. Presided over by H.E. So Khan Rithykun, Director-General of the General Directorate of Agriculture, MAFF, the workshop was attended by representatives from state institutions, the private sector, local NGOs and individual consultants in the sector. Mr. Teffera Betru attended as a representative from USAID.

Commercial biological control agents are becoming increasingly important and gaining more attention due to their relatively low toxicity to humans and the environment, their potential for local production, and their compatibility with smallholder farming, which is the predominant form of agricultural production in Southeast Asia.

The workshop provided a good venue to exchange information about the global, regional and national experiences on the use of BCA. The implementation of ASEAN guidelines on the regulation, use and trade of biological control agents in Cambodia was discussed and a needs assessment conducted among core partners.

23/04/201411/08/2017

ASEAN Biocontrol Strengthens the Capacity of the National Trainer Pool for Food Security and Nutrition in Cambodia

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The ASEAN Biocontrol Project and the Council for Agricultural and Rural Development (CARD) jointly organized a three-day Refresher Training Course for the National Trainer Pool in PhnomPenh, Cambodia from April 23–25, 2013. The training is one of the project activities to support the implementation of the ASEAN Integrated Food Security (AIFS) Framework and its Strategic Plan of Action for Food Security (SPA-FS).

Aimed at strengthening the capacity of the National Trainer Pool for Food Security and Nutrition in Cambodia, the training introduced emerging topics in food security and nutrition such as climate change and social safety nets.

Additionally, the trainers were acquainted with the AIFS Framework, which is a joint approach for cooperation among the ASEAN member states in dealing with the food security issues in the region to ensure long-term food security and to improve the livelihoods of farmers. The AIFS Framework was adopted at the 14th ASEAN Summit in 2009.

The National Trainer Pool for Food Security and Nutrition, officially established in 2009, comprises members of government, development partners, institutions, civil society and NGOs.

The Trainer Pool, which is managed by CARD, plays a vital role in strengthening human resource development in the field of food security and nutrition in Cambodia. Eighteen trainers from the Pool actively participated in the three-day training.

A representative from the Department of Agriculture, Lao PDR also attended to learn how the Trainer Pool functions and exchange experiences. The Trainer Pool plans to organize 12 training sessions at the national, sub-national and community levels before the end of 2013.

27/03/201411/08/2017

The 5th (Joint) Meeting of the ASEAN BCA Expert Groups on Application and Regulation in Phnom Penh, Cambodia from 12 March 2014

The Fifth Meetings of the ASEAN BCA Expert Groups on Application and Regulation are jointly organized on 12 March 2014 in Phnom Penh, Cambodia.

ASEAN BCA Expert Groups on Application and Regulation convened to review the draft of the ASEAN Guidelines on the Regulation, Use and Trade of Biological Control Agents (BCA) which would be further submitted to the ASEAN Working Group on Crops (ASWGC) for approval.

The Experts discussed and provided comments on the ASEAN Guidelines and agreed to include a short message from Myanmar who recently participated in the Meeting of ASEAN BCA Expert Groups.

There are ongoing field trials in Cambodia and Thailand to evaluate the effectiveness of BCA for pest and disease management in which the progress on the field trials has been reported to the Meeting. The results from the field trials would also be incorporated into the ASEAN Guidelines.

The Expert Groups proposed to meet again after the endorsement of the ASEAN Guidelines.

22/03/201411/08/2017

Trust and Control – Consumer Field Trip to where the food is grown

Kampong Chhnang – Forty-one costumers of Natural Agri-Products shops (NAP), a social-business branch of the Center for Study and Development in Agriculture (CEDAC) in Phnom Penh, joined a one-day field trip to Kampong Chhnang province to see where their food is sourced. The field trip, including local media, visited organic vegetable produces in Thnoung Kambot village; Svay Chhroum commune and Thmor Reap village; Dok Kroung village; and Pong Ror commune of Rolea Baear District.

The visit is part of CEDAC’s Participatory Guarantee System (PGS) – a locally focused quality assurance system. The consumers certify producers based on active participation and foundation of trust, transparent relationships and dialogue as well as knowledge exchange.

Consumers learned the behind-the-scenes of organic farming and biological control approaches to agriculture. The Cooperation between CEDAC and the GIZ project ASEAN Sustainable Agrifood Systems (Biocontrol) supports farmers to strengthen their knowledge on irrigation techniques, organic fertilizer production, protection of useful insects (predators) and application of other useful Biocontrol Agents (BCA) like Trichoderma Harzianum.

The customers of the NAP shops in Phnom Penh enjoyed the trip out of the city and actively discussed organic agriculture, health and environmental issues with farmers and the advisors from CEDAC and GIZ.

The participants of this field visit are now 100% confident of product origin and quality of the organic vegetables available in eight NAP shops in Phnom Penh. They want to share their impressions with their friends and relatives as well.In addition to the consumer field trips, CEDAC and GIZ are introducing a new Documentation Handbook for farmers, which is based on IFOAM Standards – an internationally applicable organic standard that can be used directly for certification. The farmers have to document every input and activity for their production. The data is controlled and verified first by commune leader, then by the internal inspector, and finally by the ICS Supervisor in CEDAC Headquarters. Trust and Control are going hand in hand.

Visit NAP on facebook: www.facebook.com/CEDACNAP

Contact:

Claudius Bredehöft

National Project Coordinator Cambodia

ASEAN Sustainable Agrifood Systems (Biocontrol)

Mobile: +855 12 21 54 30

Email: claudius.bredehoeft@giz.de

17/11/201311/08/2017

4th Project Partner Meeting in Phnom Penh, Cambodia from 11-13 March 2014

ASEAN Sustainable Agrifood Systems (ASEAN Biocontrol) 4th Project Partner Meeting Highlights Achievements and Discusses 2nd Phase Project Prospects

The Fourth Project Partner Meeting (PPM) of the ASEAN Sustainable Agrifood Systems (ASEAN Biocontrol) Project, the 4th Project Steering Committee Meeting and the 5th Meeting of the ASEAN BCA Expert Groups on Application and Regulation took place from 11-13 March 2014 in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. More than 50 participants from ten ASEAN Member States and other partners attended the meeting. Mr. Adelbert Eberhardt, Country Director, GIZ Office Phnom Penh and Mrs. Birgit Strube, First Secretary, Deputy Head of Cooperation, Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany, Phnom Penh represented GIZ and BMZ respectively and delivered the remarks. The meeting was opened by Dr. Hean Vanhan, Deputy Director General of the General Directorate of Agriculture on behalf of H. E. So Khan Rithykun, Director-General of the General Directorate of Agriculture, and Director of the National IPM Programme, Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF), Cambodia. The PPM highlighted the project’s achievements and discussed the project’s future prospects in facilitating effective implementation of the 2nd Project Phase.

Back-to-back with the PCM, the 5th ASEAN BCA Expert Groups on Application and Regulation, and the 4th Project Steering Committee Meeting convened on 12 March 2014. The ASEAN BCA Expert Groups Meeting deliberated the final draft of the ASEAN Guidelines on the Regulation, Use and Trade of Biological Control Agents (BCA) prior to its submission for consideration and endorsement by the ASEAN Sectoral Working Group on Crops (ASWGC). The Project Steering

Committee Meeting meanwhile considered and approved a number of key issues for project implementation.

On the last day of the meeting, MAFF organized a field trip for participants to Kandal province to visit the demonstration plots of cucumber and tomato farmers under Cambodia’s National Integrated Pest Management (IPM) Programme. The farmers applied Trichoderma, which is a biological control agent to control pests. The results were more satisfactory than in the plots using only chemical pesticides.

The objectives of the meetings were fulfilled with active deliberation and fruitful outcomes as well as follow-up actions for project implementation. The ASEAN Guidelines on the BCA will be submitted for endorsement to the 21st Meeting of the ASWGC in May 2014 in Cambodia. The events received special attention from the local media and were attended by a dozen reporters. The meetings were successfully organized by German International Cooperation (GIZ) in close collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF) of Cambodia.

19/09/201311/08/2017

Organic Farmer Assembly Marks Progress, Plans for Future

Phnom Penh, Cambodia – As organic rice production continues to expand in Cambodia, the Cambodian Center for Study and Development in Agriculture(CEDAC) and GIZ are working to ensure that farmers are properly supported to reap the benefits of organic agriculture. To this end, the Second General Assembly of the National Organic Rice Producer Confederation in Cambodia was held on September 19-20, 2013 at CEDAC’s head office in Phnom Penh. Over 50 rice farming community representatives participated in the meeting. Mr. Keam Makarady, CEDAC Director of Health and Environment and Mr. Claudius Bredehoeft, National Project Coordinator for GIZ ASEAN Biocontrol (ABC) for Sustainable Agrifood Systems facilitated the meeting.

Dr. Ludgera Klemp, Counsellor and Head of Cooperation at the German Embassy delivered the Opening Remarks in Khmer. She spoke about the German government’s long support for CEDAC, saying “it’s a pleasure to look back on the established cooperation with CEDAC since 2003 and the progress made through technical support for organic agriculture and market development for farmers since then.”

The assembly’s primary objective was to generate the 2013-2014 organic rice production plan. But according to Mr. Bredehoeft: “This meeting is also about sharing knowledge about the situation in the fields, in the market, and this year’s rice production.” In addition to reviewing the numbers of organic farmers, respective yields and the Fair Trade premium available to certified groups, participants were encouraged to discuss their successes and challenges. “It is very important that we learn from each other,” Mr. Bredehoeft stressed.

Other presenters included CEDAC President, Dr. Yang Saing Koma and Mr. Sou Savorn, CEDAC Sahakreas Operations Manager. Dr. Koma gave an overview of the essential System of Rice Intensification practices as well as the Fair Trade and organic certification processes, explaining how the farmers can benefit from this linked system.

by Mr. Alexander Davis (CEDAC)

10/07/201311/08/2017

Rising Demand Boosts Organic Rice Industry

Phnom Penh, Cambodia Production of Cambodian organic rice is rising rapidly as international demand for the product increases, experts said at a forum for growers and other industry members held Tuesday at the Phnom Penh headquarters of agricultural NGO Cedac.

“In the first six months of this year we’ve exported about 200 tons of organic rice, which is about double last year’s figure,” said Cedac president Yang Saing Koma, adding that farmers aren’t producing enough to meet demand. “We hope that by next year, we’ll be exporting 1,500 tons annually.”

Although there are about 100,000 farmers who produce organic rice in Cambodia, only about 200 meet international standards, Mr. Saing Koma said.

He said Cedac hopes the number of certified organic farmers will rise to 700 by next year, but certification is a strict, three-year-long process, and farmers who are certified are subject to annual inspections thereafter.

Claudius Bredehoeft, national project coordinator for the regional program ASEAN Biocontrol for sustainable Agrifood Systems of GIZ, the international development arm of the German government, said at the forum that Cambodian farmers are well-positioned to carve out a niche in the rice market. GIZ together with CEDAC is building up the organic rice value chain for the national and international market since 2003. The organic production is preserving the soil fertility on the one hand and supports the farmer to save the costs for chemical inputs on the other. Through the organic and fair-trade certification and market driven approach the farmers are increasing their income as well.

“Since Thailand has introduced minimum rice prices, and Cambodia can export tax-free to the E.U., it has advantages Thailand and Vietnam do not,” he said. “With the fair trade and organic price premium, there are good market incentives to [continue to grow the rice industry].”

Heum Sothea, a farmer from Kompong Chhnang province and forum participant, said that growing organic rice had improved living conditions for her family.

“When I grew conventional rice, I spent a lot of money on fertilizer and chemicals, and cultivated only 1 to 2 tons per hectare. I sometimes had to sell pigs to pay my debts,” she said.

“But now that I grow organic, I harvest about 3 tons per hectare and sell at higher prices. I can use the profit to send my children to school and buy them plots of their own.”

by Mech Dara and David Kaner

27/04/201311/08/2017

3rd Project Partner Meeting in Hanoi, Vietnam from 22 May 2013

On May 22, 2013, ASEAN Biocontrol organized the 3rd Project Partner Meeting at Sofitel Plaza, Hanoi with support from the Plant Protection Department, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development of Vietnam. The purpose of the meeting, which was hosted by the Plant Protection Department, was to share an overview of project achievements and challenges, progress on the development of regional guidelines on BCA application, trade and use and the preliminary results of the Project Progress Review including the proposed project set-up of the second phase (2014–2017).

It also sought strategic guidance from the 3rd Steering Committee Meeting, which followed the Project Partner Meeting. ASEAN Biocontrol also held back-to-back meetings of the two Regional BCA (biocontrol agents) Expert Groups at the same venue. The Regional BCA Expert Group on Application met from May 19-21 to discuss the development of the regional guideline on BCA application and share country experiences and scientific evidence in plant protection with biological control.

Sequentially, the meeting of Regional BCA Expert Group on Regulation was organized from May 23-25. The experts held active discussions on botanical pest control products and the minimum requirements for the regional guideline on BCA regulation.

20/11/201211/08/2017

2nd Project Partner Meeting in Bali, Indonesia from 20-22 November 2012

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The ASEAN Biocontrol for Sustainable Agrifood Systems Project organized its second project partner meeting in Indonesia from November 20-22, 2012. The meeting was hosted by Directorate General of Horticulture, Ministry of Agriculture, Indonesia. The objective of the meeting were to provide an update of what the been achieved over the last six month, establish two regional Expert Group ( for regulation and application of biocontrol agents or BCAs ) and develop regional guidelines on BCA application, use and trade as well as to seek strategic guidance in the 2^nd Streeting Committee Meeting.

Participants were treated to a special field trip organized and supported by the Indonesian Directorate General of Horticulture. The group visited the Jatiluwih Organic red rice, which has received “Organik Indonesia” certification. The red rice plants are claimed to be naturally resistant to infestations of disease and parasites can grow up to 1.6 metres in height . The Jatiluwih red rice is rich in vitamins, minerals, folate and dietary fibre.