Women in Ag Network (WAgN): Cambodia

Project Title: Women in Ag Network (WAgN): Cambodia: Gender and Ecologically-Sensitive Agriculture

Target Country: Cambodia

Principal Investigator: Rick Bates, Plant Sciences

Funding Source: Feed the Future Innovation Lab for Collaborative Research on Sustainable Intensification, which is supported by the U.S. Agency for International Development

Collaborators:

• Penn State: Deanna Behring, Carolyn Sachs, Leif Jensen, Janelle Larson, Ann R. Tickamyer, Ed Rajotte
• University of Tennesee Institute of Agriculture: Tom Gill, Dave Ader
• Agricultural Development Denmark Asia: Kjeld Vodder Nielsen
• The World Vegetable Center: Fenton Beed
• ECHO Asia: Abram J. Bicksler
• Kasetsart University: Sudathip Sae-tan
• Royal University of Agriculture: Cheang Hong, Lyda Hok
• Conservation Agriculture Service Center: Florent Tivet
• University of Battambang: Samell Keo

Project Description:

Cambodia is an appropriate setting to understand the dynamics of farming systems and the promise of Sustainable Intensification (SI) as a strategy to address gender inequity and produce nutritious foods for local and regional markets. Our project draws together Penn State researchers who have an active and growing research and training portfolio in the area of gender and agriculture along with other U.S. and in-country partners with longstanding expertise in developing and promoting SI in the context of Cambodia.

The project will promote gender equity and family nutrition by understanding and breaking down the barriers to women's participation in the value chains for SI. Our gendered perspective focuses on access to and control over horticultural goods produced using SI techniques and their local and regional value chains. While the project will focus on the four provinces of Siem Reap, Battambong, Pursat, and Kampong Thom, our aspiration is to have the approach serve as a model for the entire country and region. Moreover, our project stresses the importance of markets and will enhance efforts to move Cambodian agriculture towards a market-driven system.

We shall build capacity in local agricultural institutions, NGOs, and international universities and reserch institutes, to scale up innovations in gender-and ecologically-sensitive SI. The project also co-designs with relevant stakeholders, using gender inclusive approaches. The project also trajects relevant stakeholders, engaging them in design processes which integrate SI principles into lowland farming systems. Another goal is to enhance the flow of knowledge between relevant stakeholders and development operators, NGOs, governmental agencies, scientific community and policy-makers.