Project Update - South Sudan (JICA) and Cambodia (ADB)

South Sudan – JICA – Comprehensive Agriculture Management Plan Project – JIN Corporation

Bob Lindley in South Sudan

FoodWorks has recently successfully completed the so-called “third dispatch” for the CAMP project. We have been working on this project since August 2012 providing fisheries and livestock expertise (Robert Lindley, Jerry Turnbull and Justen Smith) to prepare a multi-sector management plan and related policies. 

The lead company was originally the International Development Centre of Japan (IDCJ) and then when the civil war forced a general retreat to Entebbe and security became a major concern the JIN Corporation took over.  

The project is on-going. We wait to see what the next steps might be for FoodWorks.

For more information contact: 

Robert Lindley 

rhlindley@foodworks.ag

Cambodia – Ministry of Economics and Finance (Asian Development Bank Loan) – Climate-resilient Rice Commercialization Support Programme - NIRAS (Denmark)

Rice paddy field in Cambodia

This $100 million program started in November 2014 and will continue for 6 years.  FoodWorks played a part in the original bid and with NIRAS and CamConsult and our consortium won against fierce competition. Unlike many loans, not only does the Ministry of Economics and Finance (MEF) administer the funds, but in this case manages the project directly. It does so through a Project Management Office under the auspices of the Supreme National Economic Council (SNEC) and implements the components via separate National and Provincial Implementing Offices. The geographic focus is the major rice growing areas of Battambang, Prey Veng and Kompong Thom. 

Funded by the ADB and other four other donors "Rice-SDP" aims to (a) undertake policy reform and (b) provide infrastructure along the rice industry value chain. 

FoodWorks has taken the lead on the policy program element but is also helping with public-private partnership (PPP) arrangements (Geoff Quartermaine Bastin and Pradeep Patnaik). For policy the challenge is to take responsibility for ensuring compliance with ADB loan conditions. This includes establishing a modern regulatory environment for the rice seed industry, developing a law for the use of agricultural land, and putting in place plant protection and sanitary/phyto-sanitary (SPS) arrangements.

Related to climate change, we have a requirement to draft a National Action Plan to Combat Land Degradation. This NAP is a requirement of the UN Convention to Combat Desertification to which Cambodia is a signatory. The country is held to be one of those most at risk from climate change given that 80% of rice cultivation depends on the annual floods arising from the Ton Le Sap water body.

For PPP and the general business development aspects of the rice sector, we have a number of sub-projects to bring to private investment. These include seed farms and drying and storage facilities. We are also assisting other experts with market studies for the value chain.

For more information contact:

Geoff Quartermaine Bastin 

gqb@foodworks.ag