National Agricultural Innovation System Assessment in Cambodia. Consolidated report

Cambodia’s development is strongly influenced by growth in the agriculture sector. In this context, the modernization of agriculture has been highly regarded by the government as a long-term strategy to transform traditional labour-based agriculture into technology-based and with that to effectively enhance the country’s further regional integration within the Association of Southeast Asian Nations. In support of this strategic vision, a participatory assessment of the Agricultural Innovation Systems (AIS) was conducted in coordination with the General Department of Agriculture (GDA) and supported by the Royal University of Agriculture (RUA). The AIS assessment aimed at (a) characterizing and taking stock of agricultural innovation systems and providing insights on factors that determine their capacity to enable and promote inclusive and responsible innovations, (b) identifying critical gaps, needs, opportunities, good practices, etc. and (c) formulating actionable recommendations including policies and strategies for reform and integration aiming at strengthening and making AIS more effective. Three multi-stakeholder workshops were organized using a participatory approach with different groups of stakeholders representing national (Phnom Penh) and regional (Takeo and Kampong Cham).  In addition to the workshop, key informant interviews were conducted with individuals who have first-hand knowledge about AIS in their own field. The present report summarizes the main findings of the assessment and proposes specific recommendations on: (i) institutional capacity development of key organization within Ministry of Agriculture Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF) for the strengthening the AIS and enable innovation, and (ii) the formulation of policy on importation tax on agricultural inputs, and agricultural credit with low interest rate, and  (iii) the update of the existing Agricultural Extension Policy.