The Ministry of Commerce’s AIMS Project will allocate $1.5 million grant to strengthen Khmer chicken, vegetable and premium rice value chains and market linkages in 2026, according to a press release.
The latest grants of the Accelerating Inclusive Markets for Smallholders (AIMS) project, under the project’s Value Chain Innovation Fund (VCIF) Window 1, will support the development of premium rice value chains and market linkages for rural smallholders across 18 targeted provinces in Cambodia.
The grant allocation came following positive results achieved in 2025, during which the project disbursed nearly $1 million to support 686 rural households as “first movers” testing commercially viable technologies and practices in the chicken and vegetable value chains.
This year, support will be expanded to an additional 1,400 rural households. It will also be extended to the premium rice value chain this year.
AIMS is jointly implemented by the ministry and co-financed by the government and the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD). It aims to enhance the prosperity of Cambodian smallholder farmers by building increasingly profitable links to agribusinesses and markets.
Through the project, the grant will accelerate inclusive market development for smallholder farmers by reducing investment risks and promoting practical, market-oriented solutions.
“This new grant reflects our strong commitment to accelerating inclusive market development for smallholder farmers,” said Eng Sothyvon, director general of the General Department of Domestic Trade, director of the project.
“By reducing investment risks and promoting practical, market-oriented solutions, we are enabling smallholder farmers – particularly women and poorer households – to adopt improved technologies, increase productivity and strengthen their linkages to reliable markets,” he added.
The release noted the long-standing partnership between IFAD and Cambodia and the value of sustained investment, especially for rural smallholders in market integration.
“As IFAD and Cambodia mark 30 years of partnership this year, this support underscores the importance of continuing to invest in solutions that help rural smallholders achieve deeper market integration, expand rural employment and strengthen resilience more effectively, with particular attention to women and other groups at risk of being left behind,” said Frew Behabtu, country director and representative of IFAD in Cambodia.
According to the release, AIMS reduces the financial barriers faced by smallholder farmers in adopting productivity-enhancing technologies and meeting market standards. The project promotes wider replication without long-term subsidies, contributing to sustainable and inclusive rural economic growth.
As of Quarter 1, 2026, total disbursements under VCIF Window 1 reached $6.21 million, benefiting 5,271 rural households nationwide since the project began.
Investment focus has been placed on high-impact commodities, particularly clean vegetables, backyard and Khmer chickens, and rice seed production. It supported net house systems, while chicken production followed technical package-based business models, helping farmers improve productivity, manage risks and meet market standards.