The General Department of Agriculture, in partnership with the World Vegetable Centre (WorldVeg), is conducting training on pest and disease management and technical assembly practices.

The training aims to boost the production of off-season vegetable crops, such as tomatoes, string beans and white cabbage, in Cambodia.

Funded by Germany’s international development agency GIZ, the course hosted nearly 30 participants from October 9-12 at the premises of the general department, which operates under the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries.

Srinivasan Ramasamy, programme leader for safe and sustainable value chains at WorldVeg, remarked during the training that while vegetable production in Cambodia has increased, it still falls short of meeting the high demand for seasonal vegetables.

Consequently, the country continues to import vegetables from neighbouring nations.

“Demand is higher, but local production falls short. In response, we are actively striving to expand the cultivation of non-seasonal crops,” he said.

During vegetable cultivation, farmers often use chemicals, which can compromise the safety of their produce, he said, so the centre is actively engaged in raising awareness and advocating for the safety of the vegetables grown.

In Cambodia, while there are ample areas for paddy rice growing, the continuous cultivation of a single variety can deplete the soil, he added, so crop rotation is imperative to replenish nutrients and ensure the long-term sustainability of the land for crop production.

“We aim to empower farmers with the capacity to cultivate vegetables by introducing new farming technologies in specific regions.

“So it is essential that we first enhance the skills and knowledge of all the teachers present.

“Once they have clear understanding and the skills, we can then share this knowledge with farmers,” Ramasamy said.

Mak Soeun, deputy head of the general department, addressed the challenges encountered in vegetable cultivation for both local consumption and export.

He identified climate change, pest infestations and concerns over product quality and safety as factors hindering competitive exports.

He stressed that the shortage of quality trainers extends beyond the vegetable sector to encompass rice, fruit and industrial crops.

“The training of quality trainers is crucial, as we require this knowledge to educate district and commune agriculture officials

“I extend gratitude to WorldVeg and our colleagues who have collaborated with our Plant Protection, Sanitary and Phytosanitary department,” he expressed.

The agriculture ministry has actively promoted year-round vegetable production to address the nation’s reliance on importing vegetables during the off-season, he added.

Soeun said that while the annual vegetable crop typically reaches around 500,000 tonnes, this year has seen an increase, one expected to exceed 600,000 tonnes by the end of the year.

However, the Kingdom’s vegetable demand stands at a substantial 1.2 million tonnes.