Social Mobilizing Service for the Accelerating Inclusive Market for Smallholders (AIMS) in 2022-23

The fourth year of Social Mobilization services as per the agreement signed between AIMS project and service provider Action For Development (AFD) joint venture with Life STEPS Organization (LSO), passed a very productive progressive portfolio. Accelerating Inclusive Markets for Smallholders (AIMS) is a joint project of the Royal Government of Cambodia (RGC) and the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD). As its name suggests, it intends to accelerate the inclusive growth of markets and for higher-value agricultural products and the development of associated local clusters through which poorer smallholder producers can benefit alongside others. AIMS is a 6 years project, effective from 28 February 2017 with an expected completion date of 31 March 2023. LSO was contracted to serve in the following nine provinces and 4 value chain commodities: backyard chicken, cassava, rice and vegetable of smallholder farmers/producers:

 1.     Kampong Cham Province (regional hub office) is located on the central lowland of the Mekong River. It is the eleventh largest province in Cambodia and with a population of 899,791 that is the most populous province. There are 9 districts and one municipality belonged to this province.

2.     Kratie Province is located in the northeast. It is one of four provinces with a substantial indigenous population and 70% of the population is living in rural. It’s a home of seven indigenous groups: Bunong, Kouy, Mil, Khonh, Kraol, Steang and Thamoun. There are 05 districts and 01 municipality with a total of population 374,755. Kratie is the one of poorest provinces in Cambodia.

3.     Preah Vihear Province is located in the northern of Cambodia. It is one of the nine provinces that are part of the Tonle Sap Biosphere Reserve. There are 06 districts and 01 municipality with a total of population 254,827.

4.     Kampong Thom Province is second largest province by area. There are number of significant Angkorian sites in the area. As one of the nine provinces bordering Tonle Sap Lake, Kampong Thom is part of the Tonle Sap Biosphere Reserve. There are 07 districts and 01 municipality in Kampong Thom province with a total of population 681,549.

5.     Prey Veng Province is crossed by two major rivers of the country, namely the Mekong and Tonle Bassac. The total land area of the province is 4,883Km2 with a total of population 1,057,720 and 80% of Prey Veng province are farmers and living in 12 districts and 01 municipality. The majority of the population is Khmer and only 1.13% are ethnic minorities such as Kinh(Viet), the Cham(Khmer Islam) and Lao.

6.     Tboung Khmum Province is a province in the eastern part of Cambodia, located in the central lowland of the Mekong River. Its capital and largest city is Soung, Tboung Khmum province was formed when Kampong Cham province was split into two provinces by a royal decree signed on 31 Decemcer 2014 by King Norodom Sihamoni with suggestion of Prime Minister Hun Sen. The province is subdivided into 06 districts and 1 municipality with total of population 776,841.

7.     Stueng Treng Province is located in the northeast of Cambodia, its northern boundary is an international border with Laos. The Mekong River crosses the province roughly through the center. The province is subdivided into 04 districts and 1 municipality with total of population 165,713.

8.     Mondulkiri Province is located on south-eastern part Cambodia. It is the most sparsely populated province in the country despite being the largest in land area. The province was created in 1961 from splitting the eastern part of Kratie Province. The capital is Senmonorom town. The province is divided into 04 districts and 1 municipality which are further subdivided into 21 communes and 98 villages with total of population 92,213. The population lives off the land, planting rice, fruit trees, and a variety of vegetables.

9.     Ratanakiri Province is located on northeast Cambodia. Ratanakiri province is sparsely populated. It is 217,453 residents make up just over 1% of the country population. The province is among the least developed province in Cambodia. Its infrastructure is poor and the low level of education, with under half of the population is illiterate.