2020/09/11
September 2020, Siem Reap: On September 29, 2020, more than 60 participants from relevant ministries, international organizations, civil society organizations, and relevant local departments met to discuss the development of a national e-agriculture strategy.
The workshop, co-sponsored by the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF), the Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications (MPT), the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), and Siem Reap Province, brought together key stakeholders and It aimed to identify current developments in technology (ICT) activities and challenges facing agriculture and to gather information for the preparation of a national e-agriculture strategy.
This national strategy is a roadmap to introduce electronic solutions that will help Cambodia transform agriculture for national economic growth and national prosperity, using the electronic agriculture framework and guidelines designed by FAO and ITU. will be determined.
E-agriculture is the use of new ICT applications, including digital technologies, to improve agricultural and rural farming by improving access to valuable information that helps people who rely on farming for a living make the best decisions. It’s about promoting development. It also offers potential opportunities to increase incomes and improve livelihoods of rural communities through increased efficiency in agricultural production and value chain development.
For people working in the agricultural sector, having access to the right information at the right time through the right medium is critical. This includes farmers, fishers, foresters, policy makers, industry and other actors in the agricultural value chain. In this context, ICT includes devices, networks, services, and applications, ranging from Internet-based technologies and sensing tools to other technologies that have existed since time immemorial, such as radio, telephones, mobile phones, television, and satellites. included.
Smallholder farmers in Cambodia are facing increasing challenges as a result of climate change, erratic rainfall patterns, drought, and even pest and disease attacks.
Furthermore, as Mac Mony, Director of the Department of Planning and Statistics (DPS) of the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, explained, small-scale farmers suffer from low agricultural productivity, poor quality, high prices and shortages of agricultural inputs. We need smart solutions to deal with it. Market information.
Cambodia has introduced important strategies and policies such as Rectangular Strategy Phase IV, National Strategic Development Plan (NSDP 2019-2023), e-Government Master Plan (2017-2020), and Agricultural Development Strategic Plan (2019-2020) . 2023) and is currently developing the Agriculture Master Plan 2030, all of which emphasize the need to further develop the digital economy and increase investment in agricultural modernization.
Good practices and the use of technology in Cambodian agriculture are advancing and accelerating. The introduction of net houses for growing vegetables, drip irrigation, seeding machines and agricultural drones for dispersing seeds and fertilizers – all these innovations are the foundation for driving an advanced agricultural sector into the future.
In addition to the fact that 45% of Cambodian farmers own a smartphone, according to the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), Cambodia’s existing strengths and opportunities, particularly its young and educated population, and the country’s middle-income The rise of layers made this transformation possible. class.
“The key development strategic goals and priorities of the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries are to continue to promote the diversification and competitiveness of agriculture, while increasing the efficiency of the sustainable management of land, forestry and fisheries resources, to provide high-quality, safe and nutritious The goal is to secure high-quality products,” said Chan Chesda. A statement from the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries emphasized the important use of digital technologies in agriculture to realize these goals.
Mr. Aum Kosar, Assistant FAO Resident Representative in Cambodia (Program), commented as follows: But we don’t just need digital technology, we also need the right connectivity and digital literacy to enable broad access and broadly shared benefits. ”
He further added that the e-Agriculture Strategy will help streamline the allocation of financial and human resources and holistically address ICT opportunities and challenges in a more efficient and effective manner for the sector. This strategy will not only ensure the achievement of the goals of the National Agriculture Master Plan, but will also help generate new sources of income and improve livelihoods in rural areas. The existence of a comprehensive national strategy will prevent e-agriculture projects from being implemented in isolation and avoid duplication of efforts and resources.