Second National Farmers' Forum

Friday, 29 April 2011

“Active participation from farmers and relevant institutions in this program indicated the wish of Cambodian people to contribute to the resolution of social and economic issues toward successful poverty reduction,” said H.E. Tao Seng Hour, vice chairman of Council for Agricultural and Rural Development (CARD) during the second national farmers’ forum.

The two days forum aimed to provide the opportunity for farmers, and relevant institutions to share experiences, success, challenges and obstacles that prevent farmers from adapting to climate change, as well as to collect all comments and recommendations that could help those institutions and farmers adapt well to its challenges.
In his welcome speech, Mr. Kim Rattana, executive director of Caritas Cambodia said climate change effects were causing a number of natural disasters, which are “having negative impacts on Cambodian people, particularly in the small-scale agriculture sector.”
408 participants have involved in the forum to present the factors contributing to success and challenges toward climate change adaption as well as to discuss on the policy to strengthen farmer’s capacity against those challenges. As a result, a number of mechanisms, including measures and policies have been established. Some major points related to food security, women against climate change, private sector and governmental and non-governmental organizations’ role in helping farmers adapt to climate change have been raised.
H.E Yim Chhay Ly, Cambodian deputy prime minister said during the closing ceremony that “climate change was a global issue and needed participation from all stakeholders in reduction and adaptation”.
The Second National Farmers’ Forum was held from April 27-28, 2011 at Phnom Penh Hotel under the slogan “Together helping small-scale farmers adapt to climate change to create sustainable livelihoods”. The forum was held in a good atmosphere and achieved fruitful and clear outcomes through the discussion.