Go or Stay
Inter-relation between Migration and
Agriculture Policies in Cambodia
Presented by: Mr. Vathana Roth, Research Fellow
Affiliation: Cambodia Development Resource Institute
Contact: vathana@cdri.org.kh/vathana.roth87@gmail.com
Venue: Dusit Thani Hotel, Bangkok, Thailand
Date: December 12th – 14th, 2017

What is the migration context in Cambodia?
• According to OECD/CDRI (2017):
• Between 2000 and 2015, the stock of Cambodians abroad
increased from half a million to 1.2 million.
• 10% of Cambodians aged 15 or above plan to emigrate.
• Domestic labor market has not been sufficient to absorb new
entrants.
• Higher wages in neighboring countries, particularly Thailand,
have attracted working-aged Cambodians.
• The fact is that a growing number of young working-aged
Cambodians choose emigration as a life changing and socio-
economic improving factor.
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What has been the
socio-economic impact
of the phenomenon on
wellbeing of migrants
and their families and
that of the country?
What is the inter-relation
between migration and
public policies?

When Did the IPPMD Project Start and End?
Inception
Jan-Apr 2013
Framework
May-Dec 2013
Fieldwork
Jan. 2014-Apr. 2015
Analysis
May 2015-Sept.
2016
Guidance
Sept. 2016-June
2017
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Photo credit: Vathana Roth

Conceptual Framework of the IPPMD Project
International Migration
Emigration, remittances and
return
Emigration, remittances and
return
Source: adapted from OECD/CDRI (2017, p. 56)
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The Impact of Migration on Agriculture Sector
Theoretical Empirical (Findings from the IPPMD project and Roth and
Tiberti 2017)
Emigration Lost labor due to the absent of working-aged
adults  reduced agriculture activities
Low-skilled occupations in agriculture lose the most to
emigration (OECD/CDRI 2017) (Figure)
Lost of labour supply of emigrants and working-aged adults of
migrating households (OECD/CDRI 2017; Roth and Tiberti
“Cattle feeding has also been constrained due to the lack of
labor force in rural areas (due to migration)” (RGC 2015, p. 15)
Remittances Might be used to compensate the lost labor by
hiring outside laborers or investing in machinery
and other equipment
Little evidence from the IPPMD data suggested that agricultural
households invest remittances in agriculture, either buying
equipment or diversifying activities.
Return
migration
Savings and skills gained during migration
might be used for investment in agriculture
activities.
Little difference in investing and diversifying agriculture
activities by return migrants (OECD/CDRI 2017)
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The Impact of Agriculture Policies on Migration
Agricultural
subsidies are
linked to
emigration in
Cambodia.
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Source: OECD/CDRI (2017)

Policy Environment and Migration
Policies
Non-migration
National Strategic
Development
Plan (2018-2023)
Education
Strategic Plan
(2014-2018)
National
Employment
Strategy (2015-
2025)
Financial Sector
Development
Strategy (2016-
2025)
Agricultural
Sector Strategic
Development
Plan (2014-2018)
National Social
Protection
Strategy for the
Poor and
Vulnerable
Migration
Policy on
Migration for
Cambodia 2015-
2018
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Fragmentation and inconsistence occur in integrating
migration into national and sectoral policy documents.
• Little mention of migration and its impact on various outcomes in the national
and sectoral policies.
• E.g., there was only a one-time mentioning of migration in the Agricultural
Sector Strategic Development Plan.
• While NSDP outlines govt’s intention to reduce migration (rural-urban), the
Policy on Migration for Cambodia indicates otherwise.
• The fragmentation and inconsistence need to be addressed to maximize
development benefits of migration and to ensure a more coherent policy
framework on migration.
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Policy Recommendations
• More integration of migration and its impact into NSDP, ASSDP
and other sectoral policies.
• Make agricultural subsidies conditional on subsequent yields rather
than providing them in advance if curbing emigration is the
objective of such intervention.
• Ensure that agricultural households can access agriculture labour
when needed, helping agricultural households replace labour lost
to emigration.
• Program interventions helping agriculture households channel
remittances to productive agriculture investment.
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References
• OECD/CDRI. 2017. Interrelations between Public Policies, Migration and
Development in Cambodia, OECD Publishing, Paris.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1787/9789264273634-en.
• Roth, Vathana and Luca Tiberti. 2017. Economic Effects of Migration on the Left-
Behind in Cambodia.” Journal of Development Studies, 53(11): 1787-1805.
• Royal Government of Cambodia. 2015. Agricultural Sector Strategic Development
Plan 2014-2018. Phnom Penh: RGC.
• Royal Government of Cambodia. 2014. National Strategic Development Plan 2014-
2018. Phnom Penh: RGC.
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THANKS FOR
YOUR
ATTENTION
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Photo credit: Vathana Roth