In the rice fields and vegetable farms of rural Cambodia, change began with something simple: trust, capital, and a plan.
Through the APFP-FO4A, agricultural cooperatives across the country received support under six national farmer organizations. One of them, the Farmer and Nature Net Association (FNN), provided revolving funds to agricultural cooperatives—without administrative fees—so they could invest directly in their members’ businesses. Alongside the funds came training in management and business planning, turning informal farmer groups into structured enterprises.
The Asia-Pacific Farmers’ Program (APFP) – Farmers’ Organizations for Asia (FO4A) is implemented by the Asian Farmers’ Association for Sustainable Rural Development (AFA) and La Via Campesina (LVC), with funding from the European Union (EU) and the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD). The program aims to strengthen the capacities of farmers’ organizations to provide economic services, advocate for enabling policies, and promote sustainable livelihoods for small-scale family farmers across Asia.
In 2022, the Kaksekor Samaki Rongroeurng Agricultural Cooperative received USD 50,000 from APFP-FO4A to expand rice and vegetable production.
Before the program, recalled Ry Khun, head of the cooperative, capital was their biggest struggle. The cooperative tried to buy rice from members without going through intermediaries, but payments were slow. Farmers, needing immediate cash, often sold to outside traders instead.
“When we received the funding support, everything changed,” he said.
The cooperative developed a concrete business plan, focusing on organic rice. Membership grew from just 100 farmers to 252, united around organic production. They secured a contract with the Cambodian Agriculture Cooperative Corporation PLC to supply 300 tons in the first year, 500 tons in the second, and 700 tons in the third. For the first time, farmers were not just producing—they were producing for a guaranteed market.
Sokhay Chhit, the cooperative’s finance officer, explained that although they have yet to fully meet the company’s demand, the organic rice business has already generated around USD 6,000 in profit. The cooperative has also created space for youth and women. Sokha, a young woman herself, stepped forward to serve on the committee.
Meanwhile, at the Rachana Satrei Rongroeurng Agricultural Cooperative, transformation followed a similar path. Their major challenge is that the cooperative was far from markets. Members produced crops but had no clear buyers and no business plan. In addition, they did not have knowledge of how to calculate profit or loss.
After joining the project, they received training in computerized accounting and enterprise management. A USD 4,000 revolving fund supported 10 of the cooperative’s members to expand vegetable farming. Gradually, they began bidding to supply vegetables to local schools.
In the past, they lost to middlemen. But as schools recognized their pesticide-free produce and organized producer groups, confidence grew. In 2023, they supplied 12 tons of vegetables to 11 schools. In 2024, they served 14 schools with 12.5 tons. By 2025, they were bidding for 17 schools, aiming to deliver 25 tons annually.
Before the project, their capital was less than KHR 100 million (USD 24,898). Today, it exceeds that amount, and each vegetable producer earns over KHR 1 million per month (USD 248).
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