The Agricultural Sector in Cambodia: Trends, Processes and Disparities

The agricultural Sector in Cambodia still contributes the dominant quantity to the GDP. It is the most important source of income and rural livelihood for around 80% of the Cambodian population. Cambodia’s rural population faces new challenges like high population growth, embracing market economy and international private investment, nationwide food security and decreasing agricultural production conditions as a result of rapidly changing socio-economic conditions since 1990. Major agronomic innovations are the introduction of improved new varieties as well as rice intensifications systems like the SRI production system. With more than 2.3 million ha of rice production, there is no significant diversification in the agrarian sector. Only some vegetable, cash crop and fruit production have emerged to an increasingly important, farming system. Predominant agrarian strategies for small farmers as well as economic investors are the exploitation and even over-exploitation of natural resources with little investment into a more sustainable production.

Available for download

Journal Article