Evaluation of the
Cambodian Agriculture Development Facility (CADF)

CADF is an agribusiness development project, aiming for sustainable improvement of non-rice value chains in Siem Reap and Banteay Meanchey provinces of Cambodia. CADF is managed by International Development Enterprises (IDE) and funded by New Zealand Overseas Development Assistance (NZODA).

Jock Struthers was engaged to review CADF’s operations as it neared the end of its five year term in 2009 to assess the value to the farmer beneficiaries for the grants received. He assessed CADF as a very successful example of an excellent hand-up not hand-out program.

On review, CADF was working in four value chains, assisting producers, input suppliers and marketing outlets as follows:

Vegetables:

• Assisted producers with the introduction of hybrid seeds & technologies from Vietnam and Thailand for out of season production.
• Assisted input suppliers to understand and provide the necessary seeds, fertilisers and sprays.
• Introduced buyers to improve market outlets.

Swine:

• Assisted the development of local AI services utilising semen from high performance boars imported from Thailand.
• Assisted in the development of suitable pig foods produced from locally sourced materials.
• Trained animal health workers on disease prevention and control, particularly in vaccination requirements.
• Organised local suppliers to maintain appropriate supplies of medications, including cold chains for vaccines.

Sericulture:

• Introduced higher producing hybrid mulberry varieties to help alleviate the lack of mulberry supply which had appeared to be the main factor limiting expansion of silk production.

Fruit Trees:

• Encouraged horticultural suppliers to stock and produce improved varieties such as Melons, Mangoes & Pineapple.

Approach & Methodology for the Evaluation:

Over three weeks were spent in the field visiting the wide range of often remote farming districts and villages to interview beneficiaries and stakeholders from which representative business models were developed for each value chain to assess the economic situation of farmers at the beginning, and at the time of review to assess the value of interventions to date.  Projections were then made to compare the possible outcome if the project was extended for three years as opposed to ceasing in 2010.

NZODA subsequently approved a three year extension for a scaled down program along the lines of those recommended from the review.