CCFC’s banner on the launch of 16-day campaign on food system and farmer social protection. CCFC
The Coalition of Cambodian Farmer Community (CCFC) is conducting the 16-day “Farmer Food System and Social Protection” campaign, with the objective of appealing to the government to provide social protection measures for both formal and informal economy farmers and workers.
Theng Savoeun, director of the CCFC, said on October 3 that the campaign will run from October 1 to 16. Its primary focus is to highlight the challenges and requirements of rural farmers, including land-related concerns and other issues. Their intention is to seek assistance from the government in addressing these challenges and ask for necessary interventions.
Additionally, the campaign seeks to encourage the government to address food-related issues and collaborate closely with partner organisations to devise strategies aimed at ensuring food stability and enhancing social protection measures.
“Our foremost priority is to ensure that farmers have access to a comprehensive social protection system, including healthcare, National Social Security Fund (NSSF) cards, and IDPoor cards, similar to those available to most workers in both the formal and informal economies,” added Savoeun.
He explained that the campaign is being conducted in communities across 14 provinces and towns, including Koh Kong, Kampong Speu, Preah Sihanouk, Svay Rieng, Preah Vihear and Siem Reap.
Communities in certain provinces have planned petitions as part of the campaign, while others have organised workshops, meetings and online photo sessions to communicate their concerns to the public and the government.
Savoeun explained that the reason the CCFC has chosen this topic was the close relationship between the food sector and social protection systems. In a global context where the UN is concerned about the challenges to food security, especially the rising cost of living, it is imperative for the government to respond to and address these issues.
He explained that the campaign’s ability to convey the concerns of farmers to relevant stakeholders, particularly the government, with the aim of raising awareness and prompting responsive actions that benefit the farming community and address their concerns, is crucial.
“We hope to see this campaign garner an attentive response to the farmers’ concerns, leading to a constructive and acceptable solution from the government,” he added.
NSSR deputy director-general Heng Sophannarith could not be reached for comment on October 3. However, the NSSF recently reported that government officials, donors, civil society organisations, representatives of farmers and development partners convened a joint consultative workshop to discuss the requirements for social protection and the capacity of small-scale farmers to contribute to social security.
The workshop aimed to collect input from all stakeholders for the formulation of a strategy to enable small-scale farmers to become members of the NSSF.
