CEDAC Social Enterprise

The Cambodian Centre for Study and Development in Agriculture (CEDAC), based out of Phnom Penh is the biggest Cambodian NGO working on sustainable agriculture and rural development. They have been teaching farmer cooperatives the benefits of organic rice farming since 1997.  The process they teach is called System of Rice Intensification (SRI) which uses less water and eliminates the use of dangerous chemicals ultimately yielding better crops. SRI's method of rice production promotes more productive soil by allowing greater root growth and encouraging soil bio-dynamics. They have carefully built up a SRI process with their farmer co-operatives and created a strict Basic Organic Standard labelling which bodes well for domestic food security.  The practice of sustainable farming has brought health benefits to rural and urban communities, as well as reduced the impact on the environment.

Tapping the growing market for organic products and leveraging its nationwide rural network for sustainable agricultural products, CEDAC sees a strong need to become self-reliant by developing income sources from non-donor sources. In 2008 it set up and spun off a for-profit company, the CEDAC Social Enterprise (CSE), to engage in the trading of agricultural commodities and retail operations. CSE has been selling farmer produce and organic rice through its Natural Agri Product shop and opened a restaurant serving organic fried chicken in the capital city in the same year.  Results thus far for this venture have been encouraging.

CEDAC also completed construction on a community rice mill for farmers in 2008.  There is one in Takeo and another one in Kampot province. The rice mill gives confidence to farmers to increase their production, helps with logistics and allows stock taking thus farmers are less affected by price fluctuations. Currently, there are 241 farming families who benefit from the community rice mill.