“MetKasekor is a potential extension model for Conservation Agriculture, and it requires the ownership of the Department of Extension (DEAFF) and the Provincial Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (PDAFFs). MetKasekor Steering Committee plays an important role in providing direction to MetKasekor while the Technical Working Group has a critical function of implementing the model. The success of the MetKasekor does not rely on anyone but each everyone in both the Steering Committee and the Technical Working Group.” – Said H.E. Dr. Saruth Chan. Undersecretary of State, Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries.

 

“MetKasekor’’ is an early adopter led extension service model, which focuses on ’opening the market’ for private sector investments on Sustainable Intensification via government agents and the private sector to smallholder farmers in Cambodia.  It is offered by the Provincial Agriculture Department (PDAFF), managed by the Department of Extension Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (DEAFF) and coordinated closely with the private sector (cover crop companies and machine providers) to expand services and products of regenerative agriculture (CA/SI) to farmers.

 

The MetKasekor Steering Committee was formally established on May 10^th, 2022, after the approval from H.E. Veng Sakhon, Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries. The MetKasekor Steering Committee aims to provide guidance and steer the direction of MetKasekor Model, support in monitoring the progress and challenges of the activities, and eventually evaluate the overall results and provide recommendations on the next steps of implementation.

 

“MetKasekor Model helps in widening a bigger market for CA/SI and provides accurate information regarding CA/SI to small- holder farmers and service providers. This is such a brilliant initiative because both public and private sector have now been able to work together to improve the agriculture sector in the country. With the presence of involvement and partnership from private sector, the information of practices and benefits CA/SI can be delivered to our small- holders and service providers faster and more effective than ever.” - Said Dr. Mao Minea, Director of the Department of Extension for Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries.

 

The inaugural meeting marked a special milestone for MetKasekor as it brought together all Steering Committee members and the Technical Working Group members, to celebrate the establishment of the steering committee and to get to know each other and form a mutual understanding. During the event, there were presentations on the MetKasekor Model, the MetKasekor website and the roles and responsibilities of the Steering Committee and Technical Working Team. The MetKasekor IT platform was also showcased along with the presentation on the progress and challenges of implementation of MetKasekor in the two pilot provinces of Battambang and Preah Vihear. The MetKasekor team also facilitated discussions on challenges, solutions and recommendations for the model.

 

“I can see the potential of MetKasekor Model as a good extension service for conservation agriculture and sustainable intensification in the country. As one of the members in the Technical Working Group of MetKasekor Model, I also can see that each member has been working tirelessly with small- holder farmers and service providers based on each step of the model. For now, MetKasekor is being piloted in Battambang and Preah Vihear province. Seeing the potential of the model in bringing new knowledge and technologies for the practices of CA/SI, MetKasekor will be expanded to more locations in the near future.” - Said Mr. Heng Choulong, Chief of Agricultural Information Technology Service System, Department of Extension for Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries.

 

During the event, the two directors of Provincial Department of Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries of Battambang and Preah Vihear Provinces also presented the progress of MetKasekor in each province.

 

“As MetKasekor has been bringing new CA/SI technologies to small- holder farmers and service providers, the Provincial Provincial Department of Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries Battambang has also been working and will also continue to work with the Department of Agriculture Engineering (DAEng) to help introduce new CA/SI technologies to our small- holder farmers and service providers in Battambang.”   Said Mr. Chhim Vochira, Director of the Provincial Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Battambang.

 

“Preah Vihear has been a rising star in organic rice. We have over 6000 households, 34 agriculture cooperatives, and 15 companies that have been producing, working, and investing in organic rice. With MetKasekor Model, Preah Vihear will have more capacity to scale- up the production of our well- known organic products.” Said Mr. Poeung Tryda, Director of the Provincial Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Preah Vihear.

 

The MetKasekor Steering Committee inauguration event was attended by over 21 participants representing various institutions including the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, General Department of Agriculture and line ministries including the Department of Extensions of the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries (DEAFF), Department of Agriculture Land Resources Management (DALRM), Department of Agriculture Engineering (DAEng), Provincial Department of Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries (PDAFF) from Preah Vihear and Battambang provinces and development partners including Center of Excellence on Sustainable Agricultural Intensification and Nutrition, French Agricultural Research Centre for International Development (CIRAD) and Swisscontact.

 

MetKasekor is offered by the Provincial Agriculture Department (PDAFF), managed by the Department of Extension Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (DEAFF) and supported by the Center of Excellence on Sustainable Agricultural Intensification and Nutrition (CE SAIN), the French Agriculture Research Center for International Development (CIRAD), Kansas State University and the Innovation for Sustainable Agriculture project.