Survey set to identify potential investment

The Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) has given a $1.3 million grant to Cambodia to conduct an agricultural survey to identify potential agricultural products that investors can look into.

The Cambodia Inter-Censal Agricultural Survey for next year, supported by USAID and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, was signed yesterday between FAO and the Ministry of Planning to collect agricultural statistics to be used as a guideline for investors.

The year-long inter-censal programme will be completed at the end of next year.

FAO representative in Cambodia, Alexandre Huynh, said the Kingdom is the first country in the region to be chosen for this programme.

“Availability and accessibility to timely and reliable data are pivotal for the development of responsive policies and a progressive agricultural programme, It significantly contributes to the functionality of investment and market operations in the country,” he said.

It will provide a regular flow of agricultural statistics, Huynh said, and allow for a strong basis to improve policy and decision-making in the agricultural sector.

“This initiative is designed to inform policymakers and further develop the sector, improve food security and the livelihood of smallholders to reduce poverty,” he said.

The first Cambodian national agricultural census started in 2013. It cost more than $5.2 million and was funded by the government, AusAid, the Swedish International Development Agency, FAO and USAID.

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