Grow Asia, a multi-stakeholder partnership that aims to develop sustainable and inclusive agriculture in the ASEAN region, will launch its first workshop in Cambodia in March, Jenny Costelloe, Grow Asia’s director of country partnerships, said yesterday.

The partnership platform will cooperate with Cambodia’s Agriculture Ministry, the World Bank, the World Economic Forum (WEF) and other stakeholders to help develop Cambodia’s agricultural sector, with priority going to rice, vegetables, chillis, corn, cassava and rubber, Costelloe said during a luncheon organised by the International Business Chamber.

“We are looking at the different ways to train farmers in more sustainable farming practices, and also looking to engage the buyers,” she said.

The Grow Asia partnership platform collaboration between WEF and ASEAN Secretariat – has set a goal of reaching 10 million farmers in the ASEAN region, helping them to improve productivity, sustainability and profitability by at least 20 per cent by 2020.

The partnership includes more than 100 members and 65 companies, and is active in Indonesia, Philippines, Vietnam and Myanmar.

Costelloe said agricultural development contributes to food security, environmental stability and economic growth. She said the partnership’s focus on smallholder farmers will have broader benefits.

“It is an opportunity to develop a more inclusive and sustainable value chain,” she said.