The Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF) organized the first national farmer innovator conference 10-11 February in Phnom Penh. CEDAC was invited to participate in this conference as a guest.
The objectives of the conference were to: 1) enable farmer to share their innovations with each other as well as with MAFF officials; and 2) select the best farmer innovators for the national awards.
During the conference, selected farmer innovators specializing in five different subjects, namely System of Rice Intensification (SRI), Animal Husbandry, Aquaculture, Agricultural Tools and Machines, and Food Processing, presented their innovations to the assessment committee and other farmers. At the end, five best farmers from each subject were selected for the national prizes. In total, 25 farmers were selected for the national prizes, with 5 farmers for each subject. Mr. Tuy Phan from Tasourn Village, Tropaing Thum Khang Tbong Commune, Tramkok District, Takeo Province, received the award as best SRI farmer.
During the closing ceremony, H.E Chan Sarun, the Minister of Agriculture, emphasized the importance of local innovation and the roles of CEDAC in working with MAFF in promoting local innovation. The Minister also said that MAFF should organize this event again next year in order to show support and appreciation to farmers and their innovations.
CEDAC, as secretariat of Prolinnova Cambodia, and in cooperation with provincial departments of agriculture and other NGOs, has organized five national forums on local innovation since 2004. Now, MAFF and CEDAC are discussing the possibility of merging the National Farmer Innovator Conference organized by MAFF and the National Forum on Local Innovation organized by Prolinnova into one event in 2011. This would provide stronger momentum to the effort in promoting local innovation in Cambodia.
