Indigenous groups in rural northeastern Cambodia continue to innovate for change, seizing chances for growth as indigenous entrepreneurs create craft food products from their own agricultural produce.
Funded by the People of Japan, the Cambodia Sustainable Livelihood for Indigenous CommunitiesProject works with local producers in Mondulkiri and Ratanakiri provinces to develop harvested crops into value-added food items, such as soy milk and bottled pickles. Value-added agricultural food items often justify a higher selling price than raw agricultural products due to the added labor, ingredients, and special skills involved during the production process.
These products also can assist local farmers and producers to diversify their income streams and create entry to new market opportunities for their goods. Producing and selling these artisan food products expand local producers’ income opportunities by reaching wider markets, which contributes to improved financial stability.
CSLICP partners equip local entrepreneurs with necessary skills to market and sell their craft food products more effectively. Project leaders provide essential training in areas such as production, pricing strategies, and marketing techniques. This comprehensive support empowers the individual with knowledge and the tools torun successful businesses and maximize earning potential. By presenting alternative uses for crop materials, these local entrepreneurs become better positioned to improve their livelihoods.
The impact of CSLICP's support goes beyond financial benefits, as Indigenous entrepreneurs also are able to provide better support for their households. Leveraging the resources they grow and transforming them into profitable products, not only improves their economic well-being but also contributes to rising the overall prosperity in the community.
While IndigenousPeoples constitute less than 1.5 percent of Cambodia’s total population, certain indigenous ethnic groups makeup 57 percent and 58 percent of the total population in Ratanakiri and Mondulkiri provinces, respectively. Agriculture remains the main source of employment for most Indigenous Peoples in Cambodia, with 93.3 percent (90.6 percent men and 95.9 percent women) of people ages 15 and older working in the sector, according to a recent technical report from the International Fund for Agricultural Development.
The innovative approach designed by CSLICP empowers local native producers in Cambodia as entrepreneurs expand their abilities to produce competitive craft foods for wider consumption. By providing training and essential business skills, this project, generously supported by the Japan Social Development Fund, enables individuals to improve resiliency, increase total household incomes, and positively impact their livelihoods and communities.
