(Phnom Penh): Dith Tina, Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF), together with Igor Driesmans, Ambassador of the European Union to Cambodia, led a high-level Cambodia and Team Europe mission to the northeastern provinces of Tboung Khmum, Kratie, and Stung Treng on 17-18 August 2026.

The delegation included Markéta Kolc Hájková, Ambassador of the Czech Republic; Cristina Romila, Ambassador of Romania; Ivan Velimir Starčević, Ambassador of Croatia; and Deputy Heads of Mission from the Embassies of Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, Ireland, and Switzerland.

They were joined by the Country Directors of the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), and the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF); representatives of the European Union; and senior officials from the Royal Government of Cambodia.

The mission underscored the shared commitment of the Royal Government of Cambodia and Team Europe to advancing climate-resilient agriculture, resilient food systems, biodiversity conservation, and inclusive rural development.

Starting in Tboung Khmum province, the delegation visited the Chiro Rung Roeung Agricultural Community, supported by the Agriculture Services Programme for an Inclusive Rural Economy and Agricultural Trade (ASPIRE-AT) programme, to observe the adoption of climate-smart farming techniques and the progress of market linkage initiatives.

Continuing to Kratie, the mission focused on the Mekong dolphin conservation zone managed by the Fisheries Administration and WWF, with support from Belgium and the EU, where species protection is paired with sustainable income generation for residents. Concluding in Stung Treng, the delegation visited Handcrafted Cashew Nuts Stung Treng, the Chambak Agricultural Community, and project sites under the EU-German Cambodia Partnership for Sustainable Agriculture and Food Systems (CAPSAFE) implemented by MAFF, GIZ, and partners to support post-harvest processing and quality assurance.

The visit demonstrated how the partnership between MAFF, Team Europe, and other partners is delivering benefits for local livelihoods and natural resource management.

Dith Tina, Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, said, “Cambodia is transforming agriculture by shifting from basic farming to commercial production. Through Modern Agricultural Communities (MACs) and contract farming, we are organising local farmers to deliver steady, reliable supplies to processors. Together with the EU and our partners, we are raising food safety standards, sustainability, and market competitiveness for key crops like cashew and pepper, opening new opportunities for farmers at home and abroad.”

Throughout the multi-province visit, delegates engaged in dialogue with government officials, development partners, rural communities, and local agribusinesses. Discussions centred on how investments in contract farming, post-harvest processing, and strengthening agricultural value chains, are improving food safety standards, fostering private sector engagement, and enabling farmers and agribusinesses to access higher-value regional and European markets in line with the objectives of the EU Global Gateway strategy.

Igor Driesmans, Ambassador of the European Union to Cambodia, said, "Through the EU Global Gateway strategy, Team Europe is investing in technical expertise, food safety, and processing systems to boost Cambodian cashew and pepper value chains. This enables local agribusinesses to create higher-value products at home and expand into premium export markets. Travelling across the provinces and meeting local farmers firsthand showed me just how transformative our partnership with the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries is. Sustainable agriculture is about delivering real, tangible benefits, and it is rewarding to see our shared vision making a genuine difference."

The Royal Government of Cambodia and Team Europe reaffirmed their continued collaboration on sustainable agricultural development, food system resilience, biodiversity protection, and rural development.
=FRESH NEWS