Cambodia Horticulture Advancing Income and Nutrition (CHAIN-II)

This project is active

The Cambodia Horticulture Advancing Income and Nutrition (CHAIN-II) project seeks to establish inclusive extension services to promote the safe production of horticultural products with the aim to increase the incomes and food security of the rural poor. The project uses a results-driven market development approach and establishes PPPs to strengthen capacities and inclusive governance.

CHAIN-II will run until end 2020 and is a follow-up project to CHAIN-I that ran from 2014 and was successfully finalised in November 2017. Both phases are mandated by the Swiss Agency of Development Cooperation (SDC), and are implemented by SNV (lead) together with Swisscontact.

Over 50% of fresh fruit and vegetables consumed in Cambodia are imported from Thailand, Vietnam and China (€180 million per year). At the same time, the rise of a Cambodian middle class and a booming service and tourist industry has resulted in increasing demand for safe, local fruits and vegetables, providing an opportunity for small holder farmers and processors to increase their income and food security. As more than 40% of the rural poor still suffer from food insecurity, this offers a chance to increase their income and improve their livelihoods in the long term.

Focusing on the fruit and vegetable sector, the CHAIN-II project tackles market system constraints to improve the service delivery to smallholder farmer households, especially women-headed households and indigenous people. The project encourages smallholder farmers to diversify their production of vegetables by introducing horticultural techniques and establishing market linkages required to generate additional income, while addressing malnutrition by promoting dietary diversity.

Key targets until end 2020 for CHAIN-II:

  1. 9,750 farmer households (58,500 persons) benefit from CHAIN project activities
  2. 3,150 commercial farmers (50% female, 10% Indigenous People (IP)) with increase their average income with €520 from selling vegetables;
  3. 3,100 Semi ‐ commercial farmers (70% female, 10% IP) with increased average net income of €180 from vegetable sales;
  4. 2,300 homestead farmers (95% female, 10% IP) with increased average net income of €45 from vegetables;
  5. 25,000 persons (men and women) from homestead households (10% IP) with nutritional awareness;

CHAIN-II is a follow up to CHAIN-I ran from 2017 to November 2017. Phase I proved that there are viable commercial opportunities for locally grown vegetables in the local markets in the project area, as well as opportunities for boosting household food security, resilience and nutrition. The project also facilitated the entry of private sector companies into CHAIN project area, fostering improved collaboration between the public and private sector.

Key results of CHAIN-I:

  1. We reached 6,800 farmers;
  2. 75% of homestead farmers increased their income;
  3. 1,000 farmers were trained on processing techniques;
  4. 90% of reached households improved their diets by eating more vegetables.

What's new?

Key facts



Commercial and homestead producers and processors (male- and female-headed households) increase productivity by adapting improved technologies


Farmer groups and processor groups provide demand-oriented services and facilitate transparent and fair market engagement


Public and private sector actors deliver demand-driven, gender-sensitive and accountable advisory services.

CHAIN-I project results

we reached
of farmers
increased their income
were trained processing techniques
of households
improved their diets

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