Grow Against the Flow

Context and Project Objective

Most smallholder farmers in Cambodia grow crops only during certain times of the year, which means that year-round access to nutrient-rich food is challenging for their communities. Farmers also get lower prices for their produce during the regular growing season, as there is ample supply in the market. However, to successfully grow crops in the off-season, farmers must learn new cultivation techniques.

The goal of the Grow Against the Flow project is to make vegetables more available, affordable, and accessible by enabling smallholder farmers in Cambodia and Lao PDR to increase year-round production of safe vegetables. This will improve income and livelihood outcomes for the farmers while simultaneously and positively impacting food and nutritional security in their communities. The project also seeks to engage women in all stages of agricultural production and marketing and foster women’s economic empowerment to create more resilient communities.

Expected Outcomes 

• 35,000 smallholder farmers trained (including 10,000 directly trained by EWS-KT) in techniques that can help them grow and harvest vegetables, even in difficult climatic conditions  
• 70,000 households trained in techniques that can help them grow and harvest vegetables, even in difficult climatic conditions

EWS-KT Partners

Funding partner: World Vegetable Center

Implementing partners: Department of Agriculture, Lao PDR; iDE

Project Period

1 March 2020 – 28 February 2024

Location

Cambodia: Kampong Cham, Tbong Khmum, and Kampot provinces