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Cambodia Agricultural Value Chain Program Phase II
Cambodia
2016
2021
Keywords
Rural development; Food security; Reproductive labour; Civic participation; Capacity building
Project description
The purpose of CAVAC Phase II will be to increase the productivity and incomes of small farmers and trade
in milled rice and other crops by strengthening market systems and investing in irrigation infrastructure.
The program will support two goals: (1) Improved incomes for smallholder farmers; and (2) Increased trade
in milled rice and other crops.
According to page 33 of the CAVAC Phase II Investment Design documnet (4 June 2015), "CAVAC II will not have gender as a high-level objective; but it will attempt to ensure gender equality is promoted".
Primary thematic area
Secondary thematic areas
Business development
Trade & access to markets; Social reproductive labour
Project details
Umbrella programme
Accountable Org(s)
Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade;
Funding Org(s)
Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade;
Implementing/
Partner Org(s)
Cardno
Project contact
Funding (USD)
Committed
Spent
$
89720000
$
Project website
https://www.dfat.gov.au/sites/default/files/investment-design-cambodia-agricultural-value-chain-program-phase-ii.pdf
https://www.dfat.gov.au/sites/default/files/cambodia-appr-2018-19.pdf
https://www.dfat.gov.au/geo/cambodia/development-assistance/Pages/increasing-agriculture-productivity-cambodia
https://www.dfat.gov.au/publications/development/cavac-ii-mid-term-review
D-Portal link
Project evaluation
Evaluation source
Independent review
Mid term review (p.1) states: "The four person Review team undertook data gathering from 25 February to 1st March 2019, with one member having been made available to the team through the DFAT Gender Equity Branch to
help ensure high quality consideration of gender issues and CAVAC II�s performance in relation to Women�s Economic Empowerment (WEE)".
Evaluation methodology
Mixed method. Mid term review team conducted desktop research (document review and synthesis), semi-structured interviews, and field visits.
Programme targets
The aim of CAVAC II is to increase the productivity and incomes of smallholder farmers and trade in milled rice and other crops by strengthening market systems and investing in irrigation
infrastructure. To achieve this aim, CAVAC II works across three components:
I. Component One (C1) - Productivity and Diversification (14 per cent of Program Costs)
II. Component Two (C2) - Irrigation and Water (I&W) Management (72 per cent)
III. Component Three (C3) - Milling and Export (14 per cent)
As designed and currently contracted, CAVAC II aims for:
� 135,000 farming households to have access to improved farming knowledge
� 18,000 farming households to have access to improved irrigation, and
� Five new or improved rice varieties are introduced and adopted.
Results achieved
From the mid term review:
- Component One - There is an emerging body of evidence of a changed dynamic in agricultural
retailer-farmer relations, based on a growing sense of mutual advantage: building capacity of
agro-enterprises to provide better services to farmers while demonstrating a causal pathway
between quality of service provision, increased market share and farm profitability (including
labour and cost saving and some environmental benefits from better input use). This is
evidenced in 108,210 farmers changing practice in relation to a combination of improved seed
variety utilisation, pesticide use, improved irrigation, and mechanisation. In addition, there are
promising signs that the RGC is realigning its own role in terms of better understanding how it
can better facilitate the important role to be played by the private sector in providing such
extension services.
- Component Two - CAVAC has completed 10 irrigation schemes that were irrigating 48,750
hectares of land at the end of 2018, helping demonstrate 'proof of concept' of its irrigation
approach, including its support for FWUCs. A recent evaluation of Phase One I&W schemes
indicating a 333% increase in rice production. MoWRAM is now expressing support and an
intention to adopt and adapt CAVAC's approach. If promoted strategically, the model has the
potential to be a long term legacy with influence and impact within and beyond Cambodia.
� Component Three � Working closely with the Cambodian Agricultural Research and Development
Institute (CARDI), eighteen seed producers have been supported to produce 449 tons of four
improved seed varieties, contributing to production of higher quality paddy with an estimated
value of $247,425. CAVAC is also working to reduce the amount of seed used by farmers by partnering with the private sector to develop affordable direct seeding technology. At policy level,
CAVAC is working to strengthen the enabling environment for agricultural exporting through
support to production related strategy development within MAFF and through collaboration with
the Ministry of Commerce in support of better integrated trade strategy.
Targets met?
The aim of CAVAC II is to increase the productivity and incomes of smallholder farmers and trade in milled rice and other crops by strengthening market systems and investing in irrigation
infrastructure. To achieve this aim, CAVAC II works across three components:
I. Component One (C1) - Productivity and Diversification (14 per cent of Program Costs)
II. Component Two (C2) - Irrigation and Water (I&W) Management (72 per cent)
III. Component Three (C3) - Milling and Export (14 per cent)
As designed and currently contracted, CAVAC II aims for:
� 135,000 farming households to have access to improved farming knowledge
� 18,000 farming households to have access to improved irrigation, and
� Five new or improved rice varieties are introduced and adopted.
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