The document outlines the extensive process undertaken by Cambodia's Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF) to formulate an agricultural extension policy. It involved establishing committees, conducting literature reviews and consultations at regional and national levels with stakeholders including farmers, NGOs, and development partners. Draft policies were developed and revised based on feedback over several months. The goal is to improve extension services and technology adoption to boost agricultural productivity and farmer livelihoods in Cambodia.

1. Agricultural Extension Policy
Formulation in Cambodia:
An Overview of the Process
Dr. Mak Soeun, Deputy Director General, MAFF
Dr. Mao Minea, Director of Department of Agricultural Extension
Dr. Murari Suvedi, Professor, Michigan State University
June, 2015

2. Background
 Agricultural program existed in Cambodia before 1970s
(Department of Extension and Rural Development)
 After 1979, Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries
(MAFF) set up an Extension Unit and one Committee
 Department of Agricultural Extension (DAE) was created
in 1995 and renewed in 2000.
 DAE does not have formal agricultural extension policy.
 MAFF is embarking on a consultative process of creating
a national policy and guidelines on agricultural
extension, to bring about real improvement in the
agricultural sector.

3. Background, Cont.…
 General Department of Agriculture (GDA) of MAFF
requested technical assistance from USAID’s Cambodia
HARVEST project. USAID expressed strong support to
GDA and has responded promptly with an international
extension expert and local consultant(s) who will work
closely with the Core Team.
 GDA established a “Core Team” of senior staff to
formulate draft of agricultural extension policy and
guidelines.
 MAFF also establishing an “Advisory Committee” to
oversee the agricultural extension policy formulation
process.

4. Mission
 To facilitate policy dialogue between public sector
officials, private sector actors, development partners
and organisations representing producers in the
agriculture, forestry and fisheries sectors.
In order to …
 Develop a policy framework and related guidelines
on agricultural extension services for field crops, fruits
and vegetables …

5. Project Objectives
Overarching goal is to guide and regulate the provision
of agricultural extension services in the country.
Specific objectives are to:
Conduct review and consultations on agricultural
extension needs, current delivery structure and
extension approaches.
Organize a participatory process to formulate the
policy and related guidelines in order to facilitate
harmony among public, development partners/NGOs
and private sector engagement in extension under a
common set of principles and guidelines across the
agriculture sector.

6. Key questions to be answered
▪ What should be the future roles, functions and structure of the
public sector extension service in Cambodia?
▪ What should be the priority focus of extension in the agriculture,
forestry and fisheries sectors? How to target assistance to:
▪ Commercial farmers, fishers and forest-related business?
▪ Women, indigenous groups, poor?
▪ What role should the private sector, development partners/NGOs
and producer organisations play in providing agricultural
extension services?
▪ What will extension services look like in 2020?

7. Phasing of Policy Formulation Process
 Phase 1: Inception: Setting mission and objectives, outlining the steps and
process, formation of “Advisory Committee” and “Core Team.”
Outcome: Inception Report
 Phase 2: Policy Dialog: review of literature on extension and policy process,
consultation and dialog with development partners/NGOs, study visits, drafting
policy framework and preliminary guidelines, holding 4 regional listening
workshops.
Outcome: Preliminary Draft Policy and Guidelines
 Phase 3: Draft Policy Framework: hold consultative workshops to share draft
agricultural extension policy and guidelines focusing on field crops, fruits,
vegetables, receive comments and make amendments
Outcome: Draft Policy and Guidelines
 Phase 4: Agricultural Extension Policy: complete review by the “Advisory
Committee” and , submit policy to the Ministry for approval.
 Phase 5: Policy Approval and Launching by the Royal Government of
Cambodia.

8. Policy formulation Process
Problems&Agenda Setting:
Risks&problems Analysis
Sector Strengths
Opportunities in
Agricultural Sector
POLICY FORMULATION :
OPTIONS & STRUCTURE
POLICY FORMULATION :
DESCRIPTION
(FLUSHING OUT)
POLICY FRAMEWORK and
ADOPTION/LEGITIMATION
Time-line: Jan-Feb 2014 February - May 2014 May- August 2014 August 2014-April 2015
• Formation of Core and Advisory
Teams
• Extension current Policies and
Processes
Core Team Meetings and
Stakeholder Consultations
Stakeholder Workshops
and Study Visits (VN and
Thai)
National Stakeholder
Workshop/Team Meetings

9. Key Stakeholders
The consultative process will engage:
 MAFF Representatives
 Department of Agriculture Extension
 Fisheries Administration
 Forestry Administration
 Department of Livestock
 Cambodian Agricultural Research and Development Institute (CARDI)
 Provincial Departments of Agriculture
 Agricultural colleges and universities
 Other relevant government agencies– MRD, WoWA, MoWRAM, MEF, MOC, MoE, CARD,
NCDD, etc.
 Other key role players in the agriculture, forestry and fisheries sectors:
▪ Development Partners/NGOs
▪ Private sector, CBOs, farmer associations
▪ Farmers, fishers, forestry enterprises

10. Policy Dialog and Process
Date (tentative) Province
March – May, 2014 5 Regional workshops
May -June Study Visit to Thailand and
Vietnam
July National Workshop
August Consultative Meeting
September Policy Retreat
October-December Consultative Workshops
February 2015 Finalize Policy Draft
April 2015 Approval by MAFF
May 2015 Launching of Policy

11. Why to have regional/provincial
dialog workshop?
 Extension practitioners are based in the provinces.
 Deep knowledge of local conditions and particular
challenges.
 Link to local agriculture, forestry, fisheries and livestock
stakeholders for consultative processes.
 Provincial support for and involvement in the policy
development process is essential for a demand-driven
and participatory extension service.

12. Who attended the regional
Workshop?
 Provincial Departmental Staff (PDA)
 Core Team and Advisory Team members
 Stakeholders in agricultural, forestry, fisheries and
livestock in the provinces:
Farmers, input suppliers, agribusinesses, traders
Farmer Organization, CBOs, Commune Councils,
District Councils, and Provincial Councils
Development partners/NGOs

13. Who was invited to the National
Workshop?
 Provincial Departmental Staff (PDA)
 Core Team and Advisory Team members
 Stakeholders in agricultural, forestry, fisheries and
livestock in the provinces:
Farmers, input suppliers, agribusinesses, traders
Farmer Organization, CBOs, Commune Councils,
District Councils, and Provincial Councils
Development partners/NGOs

14. Who was invited to the
Consultative Workshop?
 Donor Representatives (USAID, AusAid, JICA, EU, etc.)
 International NGOS (World Bank, FAO/UNDP, SNV, etc.)
 Core Team and Advisory Team members
 Stakeholders in agricultural, forestry, fisheries and livestock in
the provinces:
Farmers, input suppliers, agribusinesses, traders
Farmer Organization, CBOs, Commune Councils, District
Councils, and Provincial Councils
Development partners/NGOs

15. Process was extensive !
Literature review on agricultural extension
Study of agricultural extension act(s) and
directives
Regional and national level consultations
Dialog and discussion with stakeholders
Consultative workshops and feedback
Review of draft policy by Advisory Committee
Approval by MAFF

16. 16
All Cambodian farmers and farming communities will access and adopt better agricultural knowledge, information and
technologies for enhancing agricultural productivity, diversification, commercialization and sustainable natural
resource mgt
technologyDevelopment,
packagingandlearning
BaseonDemand-driven(market
andlocationneed)
Mainstreamcross-cuttingissues
1. Institutional organization and legal framework
2. Human resource development
3. Technology development
4. Extension material development
5. Extension service delivery
Applyinnovativemethods
Institutionalization,regulation
andpartnerships
Strengthenagricultural
education
Prepareforsustainable
financing
Expanded and effective agricultural extension service delivery for improved well-being of the
Cambodian people
VisionActionPlanStrategiesGoal
Objectives
- Improve extension systems
- Build capacity of extension workers
- Develop and disseminate appropriate technology
- Package extension materials for effective adoption and use
- Deliver extension services to all farmers and farming communities

17. Disclaimer
This presentation was made possible by the generous support of the American people through
the United States Agency for International Development, USAID. The contents are the
responsibility of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of USAID or the United
States Government.