On August 11, 2026, agricultural communities and community organizations in Kampong Thom province received laptops and printers as part of a broader distribution of 124 digital equipment sets. The equipment is being provided to agricultural, forestry, and natural resource protection communities across four target provinces to improve management, access to weather information, market communication, and participation in agricultural value chains.
The handover took place during a program to verify provincial value chain roadmaps and distribute computers and printers to farmer organizations under the PEARL project. The event was attended by representatives from the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), provincial authorities, and farmer organizations from the target provinces.
The equipment is being distributed in Kampong Thom, Preah Vihear, Oddar Meanchey, and Siem Reap to support agricultural communities, modern agricultural communities, natural resource protection areas, and community forests. The tools are intended to help these groups prepare business plans, manage finances, handle administration, generate reports, and communicate with buyers and government services.
Meas Piseth, Secretary of State at the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries and National Director of the PEARL project, said the program has three main objectives: presenting each province's value chain roadmap and explaining the 2026 action plan for farmer organizations, confirming the support and roles that farmer organizations can expect in the 2026-2027 season, and handing over laptops and printers to designated farmer organizations in the four provinces.
He noted that the presence of stakeholders from national and sub-national levels reflects a shared commitment to improving the livelihoods of smallholder farmers and promoting climate-resilient agriculture in the northern Tonle Sap region.
"The PEARL project, which began in April 2023 and is funded by the Green Climate Fund (GCF), is a key project aimed at helping smallholder farmers address vulnerabilities caused by climate change," he said.
The project is implemented by the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, the Ministry of Environment, and FAO, focusing on helping smallholder farmers, especially women and local communities, build capacity to face and adapt to climate change risks.
In the four target provinces, the project focuses on key agricultural value chains: cashew in Kampong Thom, organic rice in Preah Vihear, Keo Romiet mango in Oddar Meanchey, and vegetables in Siem Reap. The aim is to increase access to better markets and use market mechanisms as tools to reduce farmers' vulnerability to climate change impacts.
"The PEARL project will contribute to the implementation of national policies, particularly priorities 5 and 6, by supporting commune agricultural officers and other extension workers in providing effective and understandable extension services to farmers," he said.
For the Phnom Sandok agricultural community in Kampong Thom, the received computers and printers are expected to strengthen data management and communication, especially in member management, partner communication, and access to weather and market information.
Mao Saron, president of the Phnom Sandok agricultural community, said the community was established in 2018 with 125 initial members and now has 152 members. He said the community has faced challenges in cashew collection and sales due to inconsistent purchasing, which has caused some farmers to lose confidence in selling products through the community.
This year, the community signed a contract with a private company but could only collect just over 11 tons of cashew because purchasing was disrupted and the company's buying ended before some farmers' products could reach the market.
Mao Saron said the PEARL project has helped the community with business planning, communication with commercial partners, strengthening cultivation techniques, and setting up demonstration plots so farmers can learn new production techniques and methods that can increase yields and climate resilience.
The community has also requested support for establishing a cashew drying yard to help members dry and store cashew nuts better than drying on the ground. He said the yard could reduce problems during rain and help cashew nuts dry faster.
"The computers and printers the community received will be used to prepare member lists and community data, communicate via Telegram, use mapping systems, and track weather information to provide relevant information to farmers," Mao Saron said.
"The use of digital technology will make it easier for the community to manage data, record work, and communicate with farmers, commercial partners, and relevant institutions," he added.
Among the community's 152 members, about 105 families grow the M23 cashew variety, with a total cashew cultivation area of about 500 hectares. According to Mao Saron, the community's total cashew output is no less than 700 tons per year, with some farmers achieving yields of about 1.5 to 1.8 tons per hectare.
He explained that the community chose the M23 variety because it provides high yields, good climate resistance, and can produce fruit until June, unlike some varieties with shorter production periods. He noted that this variety has good market value and is easier to sell than some other varieties.
He compared that cashew cultivation can provide higher income than rice cultivation on the same land area if farmers can manage production and marketing well.
Rebekah Bell, FAO Representative in Cambodia, said farmers in the northern Tonle Sap region are facing increasing impacts from climate change, such as changing rainfall patterns, longer dry seasons, floods, and increased pests. The PEARL project is promoting the use of weather information, digital technology, and value chain development to help farmers strengthen resilience and increase market opportunities.
She said these changes are occurring faster and are more difficult to manage than before, so building climate resilience is crucial for maintaining production and the livelihoods of farming families.
Through the PEARL project, FAO has worked with the government and farmer communities to create better opportunities for farming families, especially through promoting Climate-Smart Agriculture, which can strengthen production, climate resilience, and livelihoods.
Rebekah Bell said the project has delivered 124 laptops and printers to participating farmer organizations, and the event in Kampong Thom was the first of four handover ceremonies in the target provinces.
She explained that the computers and printers will help farmer organizations update business plans, manage financial records, communicate with buyers and government services, and access weather information and other digital services to make better decisions.
The PEARL project is funded by the Green Climate Fund (GCF) and implemented by the government through the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries and the Ministry of Environment, with technical support from FAO.
She emphasized that these tools also play an important role in reducing the digital divide, as agriculture becomes more digital and rural communities need the same access to technology, information, and opportunities as urban populations.
The project is expected to directly support about 450,000 smallholder farmers and value chain actors, with indirect benefits to about one million people in the four target provinces through 2029.
Source: Khmer Times
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