Climate Smart Commercial Horticulture Cambodia (CSmart)

The Climate Smart Commercial Horticulture (CSmart) program, funded by the New Zealand government and implemented by iDE, helps horticulture farmers in Cambodia build climate resilience and increase incomes through market-driven horticulture. The five-year program supports more than 6,000 farmers across Siem Reap, Banteay Meanchey, and Oddar Meanchey.

Geographical Scope and Reach

• 3 provinces: Siem Reap, Banteay Meanchey, and Otdar Meanchey provinces
• 6,358 horticulture farms reached (exceeding original target of 6,000)
• 40% women-led farms
• 231 training farms established
• 355 farmgate collectors empowered (88% women-led)
• 51 local input suppliers supported (34% women-led)
• Developed partnerships with 26 corporate-level input companies

Impact

• $2,892 average annual profit increase (over the baseline: $830)
• 100% Increase in productivity resulting in more crop cycles per year
• 92% adoption rate of pest and disease control and food safety practices (baseline: 39%)
• 960 kg/dayverage collector supply volume (baseline: 350 kg)
• The ‘Melon Association’ grew from 7 to 17 buyers and increased its monthly sales by 35%, reaching 32 tons/month
• US $1.38 million: Average annual profit generated from watermelon farming on fallow rice fields by 445 farms across 1140 hectares, creating
• 57,000+ person-days of local employment valued at US$456,000/
• $11 gained in social Return on Investment (SROI) per $1 invested per iDE’s benchmark.

Project Wins: Building a Resilient Market Ecosystem for Scale, Sustainability, and Impact

CSmart’s strategy is rooted in the Market System Development (MSD) approach, which fostered strong value chain dynamics in the horticulture sector. Applying a system thinking and a participatory approach, iDE-CSmart project engaged actors across all levels of the horticulture market system to enhance coordination, unlock potential, and drive long-term impact. CSmart laid a significant focus on its market intervention using a two-pronged approach, targeting the conventional market through farmgate collectors and the niche market through Melon Association Siem Reap Meanchey (MASC). 

• Farmers transitioned from traditional growers to entrepreneurial, market-oriented producers.
• Agricultural cooperatives and producer groups enhanced both their production capabilities and institutional strength. With targeted support in business planning, leadership, and financial management, these groups improved their supply capacity, increased negotiation power, and secured formal contracts with buyers.
• Farmgate collectors improved their business and entrepreneurial skills, resulting in formalizing sourcing, offering embed services, sharing market information, facilitating supply chain credit, and enabling two-way market linkages.
• Input retailers gained knowledge and skills to offer quality products and expand their services to include technical support and advice not only in pest and disease management but also in the proper use of agricultural inputs , as well as delivery, and credit services.
• Input companies became key partners to drive innovation and reach small-scale farmers in the horticulture sector. Firms like Angkor Green and Malisan co-invested over $20,000 to deliver training on the proper and safe use of fertilizers, seeds, and agrochemicals, and promote product adoption.
• Buyers were linked through formal supply agreements,especially via the MASC, a farmer organization, which connects over 300 farmers to high-value markets across Cambodia.
• Public sector partners such as provincial department of agriculture, forestry and fisheries (PDAFFs) in all three provinces, played key roles in co-implementing business accelerators, supporting AC negotiations, leading knowledge transfer on farm, food, and environmental safety for farmers and market actors, and facilitating CamGAP training, certification, and traceability— ensuring alignment with the government’s priorities.  
• Commune Agriculture Officers (CAOs) serve as frontline advisors, working closely with farmers and providing them with technical support. They were trained on climate-smart technologies, selected crop planting, and iDE’s three principles (safe for producers, consumers, and the environment) as part of the CSmart knowledge transfer strategy in partnership with the Department of Extension in Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (DEAFF).

Innovation and Technology Deployment 

With a special MFAT’s MSD Research and Innovation Fund, CSmart also served as a testing ground for new ideas, piloting solutions through field trials and research activities, including a study on horticulture plastic products environmental impact and a market study on biodegradable plastic mulching films, as well as initiatives in regenerative agriculture practices and vegetable crop insurance.

• Intercropping, crop rotation, crop diversification, composting, and green manuring: Enhancing and preserving soil health.
• Pest and disease identification and control, including Integrated Pest Management (IPM) and the 3S practices: Ensuring safe use of agrochemicals for farmers, consumers, and the environment.
• Water-efficient systems: Drip irrigation and fertigation systems helped reduce water use while improving fertilizer efficiency. Additional techniques included high-raised beds and improved drainage to manage waterlogging.
• Strengthened trellising ('pergola' systems): Built for better resistance to wind and weather extremes.
• Sokhapheapdamnam App (Crop Health App): A comprehensive database of pests and diseases with guidance on biological control, proper agrochemical use, and safe pesticide practices, including recommended doses and pre-/post-harvest intervals. It was integrated into the government’s Chamka App, now used by over 40,000 users monthly.
• CamGAP and product traceability: Fourteen Agricultural Cooperatives (ACs) were trained on CamGAP standards and received QR code-based certification.
• Biodegradable plastic mulch and rice straw mulching: Promoted to reduce environmental impact and improve soil moisture retention.
• Open-pollinated seeds and coco-peat sowing media: Encouraged to support resilient, healthy seedling production.
• Protected agriculture (net houses and shade structures): Introduced to enable off-season vegetable production.
• Solar-powered pumping systems: Deployed to support sustainable, climate-friendly water access.

CSmart in the Press: