Agri-Food SMEs
The agriculture, food processing and retailing sectors are where the majority of Cambodian MSMEs are based. While the number of SMEs sourcing, producing and retailing agri-food products locally is increasing, most of them are still facing significant hurdles along the value chain, such as: accessing capital; lack of infrastructure and skilled workers; high cost of raw materials; challenges with marketing and achieving quality standards and lack of capacity to export.
Our Activities
WORKSHOPS/ EVENTS/TRAINING
A roundtable discussion was organized with 15 agri-food SMEs to formally launch the Working Group.
CPSA met with local agri-food SMEs to understand their challenges and the needs of the industry. This led to the formation of a new Working Group.
On 27 November 2019, the first public event of the Agri-Food SMEs Working Group was held as a business-to-business (B2B) match-making event between 28 SMEs of the Working Group and 10 guest local retail chains.
RESEARCH/PUBLICATIONS
- The strategic plan includes 4 main objectives:
- Policy and lobby
- Agri-Food SMEs promotion
- Agri-Food SMEs working group capacity building and outreach
- Agri-food SMEs Development.
“ In my experience with the rice commodity, there are several factors contributing to low local consumption. One of the reasons is the high price due to the high cost and small scale of local production, leading to high production cost per unit. This can be seen in retail prices where imported products are still cheaper than local products, even after taxes and transportation costs. Local consumers are still price sensitive and prefer cheaper products, even when they are of lesser quality and have no traceability.”
Sokunthea Hor
Owner of Kunthea Natural Rice
“ Some of the local retailers don’t trust new products or brands in the market. When renting their shelves, their products do not get promoted effectively. Moreover, raw materials are costly and add to the already expensive tax compliance services and packaging costs, so it is difficult to connect with supermarkets when the income margin is so small.”
Kenneth Matthews
General Manager of Moo Moo Farms
“As a suggestion to retailers, they could plan regular meetings with SMEs (for e.g. every six months) to understand their challenges and areas of improvement. Retailers can also explore setting up a special day to promote domestic products or, provide a space in their shops exclusively for the promotion of local products.”
Num Dima
Owner of Coffee Mondulkiri
- Kirirom Food Production Co., Ltd (KFP)
- Coco Khmer International Pte., Ltd
- Confirel Co., Ltd
- Department of SMEs, MIH
- Domnek Resort
- Golden Palm Enterprises
- Golden Yem Co., Ltd
- HESED Agriculture Trading Co., Ltd
- IBIS Rice Conservation Co., Ltd
- Khmer Mekong Food Co., Ltd
- Khmer Organic Cooperative Co., Ltd (KOC)
- Kunthea Natural Rice (KNR)
- L’irresistible
- Lyly Food Industry Co., Ltd
- Sela Pepper Co., Ltd
- Signatures of Asia Co., Ltd (SOA)
- Specialized Cambodia Produce Co., Ltd (SCP)