Skills to Success: Indigenous Youth Leading in Cambodia’s Rural Development

Story Highlights

• Over 600 young people in 20 indigenous communities have received skills training and resources, with 80% going on to form small food processing groups in their villages.
• Nearly 1,200 farmers have adopted improved horticultural practices through hands-on learning and access to materials, leading to higher yields, better nutrition and increased income.
• Around 1,200 secondary school students have joined practical bio-garden activities, gaining sustainable horticulture skills that benefit both households and local communities.

Samon Sophy stands behind a vibrant display of locally made snacks, welcoming visitors with confidence. "Now, we can earn more income and support local farmers by buying their produce to make into snacks.", Sophy reflects. As head of an Indigenous youth group specializing in agricultural food processing, Sophy is proud that she and her group have gained new skills.

In 2024, Sophy and the other 14 members of her team received training in food processing through the Cambodia Sustainable Livelihoods for Indigenous Communities Project, funded by the Japan Social Development Fund. They learnt about production techniques and market linkages from other groups before launching their own products. Today, her group produces pumpkin chips and other snacks made from taro and sweet potato, and they are quickly sold out due to high local demand.

Challenges persist-such as the lack of refrigeration equipment, or a drying machine, which restricts production to the dry season. To address these challenges, the project plans to provide drying machines to Sophy's team and to others, enabling year-round production.

The project, a joint effort between the Kingdom of Cambodia, the World Bank, and the Analyzing Development Issues Centre aims to try new ways of helping local families earn a living. With $2.75 million in support from the Japan Social Development Fund, the Project has so far helped 20 indigenous communities gain skills and resources to grow more valuable crops and find new sources of income-both on and off the farm.

So far, the project has helped over 600 indigenous youth gain valuable skills in food processing and agribusiness through vocational education and training. Now, 80% of these trainees have formed small groups in their villages, running local processing facilities and creating products like soymilk, banana chips, pumpkin cake, pickles, and even dishwashing liquid.

Beyond youth groups, the project supports nearly 1,200 farmers, helping them adopt improved horticultural practices through hands-on learning in demonstration plots. They can then return home and replicate these techniques in their own fields. Farmers receive materials and inputs, and in some cases, net-houses and water systems to further enhance productivity.

Bet Sophea, a farmer from L'eun Kraen Village, Ochum Commune, Ratanakiri province, confirms that this support has improved his productivity, income, and family health. "I can produce these healthy vegetables, and am proud of and delighted with the results," he says. "I'm truly grateful to the Japanese for their support to Cambodia, especially for helping us acquire new skills that benefit Cambodian farmers and our community."

The spill-over effect is evident in Sophea's village. Young farmer, Meng Khoy and her husband used to trek into the forest to collect wild vegetables and sell them at the market in Ratanakiri provincial town far away from their home. Now, by adopting the new methods of cultivating chemical-free vegetables in a net house in her back yard, Khoy's produce has gained a strong reputation among villagers and neighboring communities, with frequent orders coming in.

The project also supports bio-gardens in schools, engaging 1,200 secondary school students in hands-on learning and equipping them with practical skills in sustainable horticulture. This initiative strengthens connections between schools, households, and the wider community.

Som El Sopheap, a teacher at Srae Preah Secondary School notes that the life skills garden allows students to learn how to plant and care for crops and then apply these skills at home to increase family income and reduce expenses.

Ratanakiri and Mondulkiri are home to Cambodia's largest indigenous communities. Through the Land Allocation for Social and Economic Development Project, these communities now have secure land rights and better roads, schools, and other basic services.

Still, many families face poverty, food shortages, and limited access to health care and education-despite the rich farmland and good climate.

The Cambodia Sustainable Livelihoods for Indigenous Communities Project addresses this issue by providing livelihood support through innovative farming practices and technical training, and improving farmers' linkages to market and support services.

Ky Kosal, Under Secretary of State at the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, says that the collaboration between these two projects is powerful. They work closely together to reach villages, conduct detailed beneficiary profiles, improve nutrition, and prepare essential environmental and social management plans. Their partnership results in the setting up of Producer Groups-collectives that empower local farmers and entrepreneurs to join forces for shared success.

"One of the most inspiring aspects of this partnership has been its focus on inclusion," he notes. "Indigenous people are encouraged to explore horticulture production, opening doors to new livelihoods and sustainable practices. At the same time, innovative ideas are introduced to local youth, sparking interest in agro-processing activities that create jobs and generate income."

Although the project supporting Sophy, Sophea, and Sopheap is set to end this year, these determined individuals are confident that their businesses and initiatives will continue to thrive, carrying forward the spirit of innovation and resilience in their communities, and lifting the face of rural Cambodia.