Across rural communities, access to water is only one part of the equation for improving farmers’ livelihoods. Equally important is the ability to organize, plan, and engage in viable economic activities. This is the approach taken by the Farmer and Water Net Association (FWN), which has been working to empower farmer groups in Cambodia through both water management and enterprise development.
Through the APFP-FO4A program, FWN has supported its members by focusing on key areas that strengthen both organization and livelihood opportunities. These include organizing clear and functional producer groups, facilitating collective rice marketing, and developing business plans for farmer water user communities (FWUCs). Among the communities supported are the Tomnop Phkaybram FWUC in Preah Vihear province and the Stung Chinit Irrigation System FWUC in Kampong Thom province. For many farmer groups, this support marked a significant shift from simply managing irrigation systems to building sustainable livelihoods.
The experience of the Stung Chinit Farmer Water User Community illustrates this transformation. Serving the communes of Kampong Thmar and Prasat, the FWUC previously focused solely on maintaining, repairing, and monitoring irrigation infrastructure. While essential, these activities did not generate income for the organization or its members. This changed when the community received support from the APFP-FO4A program through the FWN. In 2024, the organization received USD 8,500, which was used for exploring business opportunities. They established three key enterprises: fertilizer distribution, rice seed supply, and rice trading, or buying rice directly from farmers.
Despite limited experience in running a business, the community took on the challenge. The initial funding, however, was not enough to sustain large-scale operations. The group could only afford to purchase one truck of rice, and working capital quickly became a constraint. To address this, they sought additional financial support from investors.
In its first year of operation, the FWUC managed to purchase approximately 600 tons of rice. While operations for the second year are still being planned, the group estimates that with better cash flow management—particularly timely collection of payments each harvest season—they could generate close to USD 1,000 in profit per cycle.
More importantly, the initiative has built confidence and new skills among FWUC members. What began as a purely technical group focused on irrigation has evolved into a community organization with growing entrepreneurial capacity. As noted by the FWUC leadership, their progress is a testament to the dedication and commitment of the committee, who have learned by doing and adapted along the way.
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.
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