Cambodia’s fisheries and livestock sectors play an important role in income generation, food and nutrition security, livelihoods development, and economic growth.
Fisheries contribute about 8-12% to national GDP, provide full-time, part-time and seasonal employment for up to six million people, and provide 76% of the animal protein in the national diet. Fish products also form a critical source of essential vitamins and micro-nutrients. Fish resources in Cambodia are characterised by high species diversity and endemism.
Livestock is an important asset and source of income, food, and bio-energy for rural people in Cambodia. 77% of livestock comes from smallholder producers. Poor households receive nearly 20% of their income from livestock production activities, and women manage a significant proportion of field work.They use income from livestock production for their household food consumption, children's education and other household needs.
Summary
The European Union is one of the largest development partners of the Royal Government of Cambodia (RGC). Fisheries and Livestock play an important role in income generation, food and nutrition security, livelihoods development, and economic growth. The EU supports the sustainable management of fisheries and livestock in Cambodia and invested EUR 20 million in these sectors between 2013 and 2019.
The objective of the EU-funded programme Promotion of Inclusive and Sustainable Growth in the Agricultural Sector, Fisheries and Livestock was to ensure the growth of fisheries and Livestock sub-sectors is achieved in an equitable, inclusive, environmentally responsible and sustainable way for the benefit of the entire rural population of Cambodia. The various activities of the programme helped improve sustainability of fisheries and livestock resources through collective participation of national and local authorities and communities, along with civil society organisations.
The European Union is a long term development partner of Cambodia in the fisheries sector and has just approved a new Euro 117 million ‘CAPFISH Programme to support the sustainable management of marine and inland fisheries, with a particular focus on Tonle Sap and marine resources, and aquaculture development in Cambodia. This new CAPFISH- Programme will run from 2018 to 2023.
Programme information (in more detail)
EU-funded programme “Promotion of Inclusive and Sustainable Growth in the Agricultural Sector, Fisheries and Livestock” from 2013 to 2018
The European Union is one of the largest development partners of the Royal Government of Cambodia (“RGC”). As part of its development assistance, the EU invested Euro 20 million in the programme “Promotion of Inclusive and Sustainable Growth in the Agricultural Sector, Fisheries and Livestock” implemented from June 2013 to October 2018, aiming to achieve growth in these sectors in an equitable, inclusive, environmentally responsible and sustainable way for the benefit of the entire rural population of Cambodia.
The programme is aligned with the RGC’s policy on poverty reduction and Agricultural Sector Strategic Development Plans (ASSDP)/National Strategic Development Plan (2014-2018) and the European Development Cooperation Strategy for Cambodia 2014-2018. The programme has three components -sector policy, fisheries and livestock. MAFF worked closely with farmers, private sectors, NGOs, development partners, local authorities and academic institutions to achieve the objectives of the programme.
The programme has helped improve the capacity of MAFF staff at all levels in administration, financial management, and integration of gender issues within MAFF, building better relations/networking between farmers and traders and MAFF officers, research and development, illegal fishery control and better livestock management. The EU-supported efforts have seen essential skills and knowledge passed down from MAFF, at national level, to individual fisheries and livestock farmers, enhancing their practices and improving their livelihood.
The Fisheries component aimed to improve households’ livelihood and community based decentralized fisheries resources management and to support aquaculture development. The EU, communities, NGOs and the government developed, maintained and promoted sustainable fisheries around Tonle Sap Lake in Cambodia through this programme. One sign of the success of the programme has been the increased involvement of local officials, enforcement agencies and community leaders in fisheries management and aquaculture.
The Livestock component aimed to improve food security, reduce poverty and increase income through effective and efficient services in animal health and production. To achieve this objective and assist the government to address key challenges of the sector, the EU brought its support to the General Directorate for Animal Health and Production (GDAHP) to (1) Reinforce livestock-related systems and institutions, (2) Strengthen Village Animal Health Workers (VAHW) system, and (3) Bring direct support to smallholder animal production.
Under the livestock component, projects were implemented in 25 provinces. 6,647 national and provincial staff of the General Directorate of Animal Health and Production and Animal Health and Production Offices were trained in strategic planning, implementation, motoring, reporting, English and computer literacy, disease monitoring, and slaughterhouse management, and cattle AI skills. 3,805 Village Animal Health Workers (VAHWs) and 18,834 smallholder livestock producers benefited from the programme. As a result, livestock production increased from 37,948,878 head in 2014 to 44,375,395 head in 2018 – an increase of almost 17%.
The programme assisted 162 fishery communities in 20 provinces, and trained thousands of MAFF staff particularly in the planning & statistics, fisheries and livestock sectors.
Relevant Links/News
The EU-Funded Program “Promotion of Inclusive and Sustainable Growth in the Agricultural Sector: Fisheries and Livestock
https://eeas.europa.eu/delegations/cambodia/47033/promoting-inclusive-and-sustainable-growth-argicultural-sector-fisheries-and-livestock_he
https://ec.europa.eu/europeaid/projects/promoting-inclusive-and-sustainable-growth-argicultural-sector-fisheries-and-livestock_en
https://www.worldfishcenter.org/content/promoting-inclusive-and-sustainable-growth-agricultural-sector-cambodia
The New EU-Funded Fisheries Programme (CAPFISH) Programme
· https://afd.dgmarket.com/tender/20236506
· https://www.khmertimeskh.com/50586101/eu-funding-for-fisheries-programme-confirmed/
·https://ec.europa.eu/europeaid/sites/devco/files/aap-financing-cambodia-decision-c_2018_8706_en.pdf
· https://www.khmertimeskh.com/50576970/unido-to-join-eu-led-fishery-project/
· http://m.en.freshnewsasia.com/index.php/en/localnews/12290-2018-12-14-02-56-00.html
· https://cambodianewsgazette.com/eu-announces-its-approval-worth-eur-87-million-to-support-fisheries-programme-in-cambodia/
Links to the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries
Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries: http://web.maff.gov.kh/?lang=kh
Fisheries Administration: http://fia.maff.gov.kh/
Department of Planning and Statistics: http://web.maff.gov.kh/department/planning-and-statistic?lang=kh
