Cambodian Agriculture Minister Pushes for Enhanced Farmer Support During Field Visits, Directs Efficiency in Technical Transfer

Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, Dith Tina, continues to visit farmers in Ou Chrov district, Banteay Meanchey province, to directly listen to their experiences, challenges, and needs. As the leader of the government working group for the region, the minister aims to make support measures more targeted through on-site inspections in rural areas. In a meeting held on the afternoon of September 11, emphasis was placed on exchanging views with farmers, particularly examining the practical application of agricultural techniques in the field. This visit also served as an opportunity to check the progress of "demonstration farms," which act as sites for testing and showcasing agricultural techniques before farmers adopt them. Minister Dith Tina stressed the importance of enhancing agricultural efficiency at the local level, calling for commune/sangkat agricultural officials to become providers of knowledge and techniques that farmers can practically utilize. He pointed out that technical transfer should not stop at general guidance but must address the specific problems faced by farmers in each area. The minister repeatedly emphasized the significance of delivering knowledge and techniques directly to farmers, stating that the development of the agricultural sector cannot rely solely on providing inputs or short-term problem-solving support. It is essential for farmers to possess knowledge and be capable of making sound decisions regarding production. Through demonstration farms, farmers can learn practically from the entire process, including land preparation, variety selection, appropriate use of fertilizers and inputs, water management, crop protection, and harvesting. The key is to solidify techniques as knowledge that farmers can implement independently, reducing costs while increasing productivity and product quality. Minister Dith Tina's field visits demonstrate a focus on the "listening to farmers' problems to solve problems with farmers" approach. Emphasis is placed on verifying actual field conditions and hearing experiences from those directly engaged in agriculture, rather than solely relying on figures or paper results. As farmers face numerous challenges such as rising production costs, water management, climate change, product quality, and market access, strengthening farmers' technical capacity is of utmost importance. Farmers with knowledge and proper guidance can reduce the use of unnecessary inputs and choose production methods suitable for their specific circumstances. Concurrently, regular engagement of commune/sangkat agricultural officials with farmers strengthens the chain of technical transfer from the ministry to the local level and then to the farmers. If this process is sustained, farmers' issues will be collected and relayed to specialized departments for quicker and more targeted solutions. The current inspection of demonstration farms and listening to experiences from citizens in Ou Chrov district is not merely a review of work results but also an effort to gather input from the grassroots to improve technical transfer work and make agricultural support more effective. This activity also indicates that the development of the agricultural sector requires the participation of all parties, especially technical officials, local authorities, and farmers, focusing on the common goal of increasing production efficiency, reducing costs, enhancing quality, and boosting farmers' incomes. Through Minister Dith Tina's continuous field visits, agricultural work is being driven to focus on "farmers' practical problems and implementable solutions." This approach helps bridge policy with local implementation and makes technical knowledge a crucial tool for farmers to increase productivity and strengthen their family livelihoods. Source: AKP Khmer