The new HEKS/EPER four-year “Green Cashew Project (Chanti Baitong)” was officially launched at an inauguration event in Kampong Thom Province on September 22.

HEKS/EPER is a Switzerland-based non-profit foundation working in more than 30 countries across the world to promote the dignity of vulnerable people to lead a life that is socially, economically and politically secure.

The overall objective of the project is to increase the incomes of smallholder farmers from cashew production and collection, while strengthen their resilience to climate change.

The project aims to improve the Cambodian cashew sector by optimising production and the supply chain for smallholder farmers and to create an enabling environment.

The launch event was opened with remarks from Kong Pheach, director of the Department of Agro-Industry at the Ministry of Agriculture, Forest and Fisheries. Ayumi Matsuura, the project manager of the “Green Cashew Project”, said Cambodia could become the largest raw cashew nut producer in the world, with the Kingdom having the potential to be the most sought-after origin of raw cashew nuts.

The key interventions of the project will cover three areas – research and dissemination; the development of supply chains; and the strengthening of cashew policies and an enabling environment.

The project duration is four years, with it running until the end of 2025. The project is self-funded to the amount of $1 million. PHOTOS SUPPLIED