Research Reports

Promoting the Inclusion of Smallholder Farmers through Agriculture Public-Private-Producer Partnerships

The agricultural sector is one of the main driving forces contributing to Cambodian economic growth. A majority of the rural population are smallholder farmers; therefore, the improvement of agriculture would benefit them. One of the mechanisms to be achieved is the growing concept of Agriculture Public Private Producer Partnerships (Agri-PPPPs). Agri-PPPPs involves collaboration between a government, business representatives, and small-scale producers who consent to work together to achieve a common objective or accomplish a specific task while sharing advantages, resources, and competencies (IFAD, 2016). This paper addresses the importance of Agri-PPPPs for the inclusion of smallholder farmers and sustainable agricultural development, and to provide policy options to the government on this issue. It also focuses on the current situation of Agri-PPPPs arrangement in Cambodia, the arrangements which are inclusive of smallholder farmers in Cambodia, the factors that determine the sustainability of Agri-PPPPs in Cambodia, and feasible mechanisms needed to encourage more involvement from each actor. It also takes a closer look at and discusses case studies of two agricultural firms, and three successful Agri-PPPPs cases from bordering countries.