Launch of new development project SmartAgri Cambodia
23.05.2025 / 09:21 | Aktualizováno: 23.05.2025 / 10:43
On 16 May, the Czech University of Life Sciences inaugurated the implementation of the bilateral development project SmartAgri Cambodia: Strengthening Sustainable Agriculture in Battambang at the National University of Battambang. The project, funded by the Czech Development Agency, will be implemented in 2025-27 and has the ambition to become another important pillar of Czech development activities in Cambodia, a priority country of the Czech Development Agency. In addition to the traditional development focus in the field of education or climate, the project also has a technological and commercially targeted component that strengthens the sustainability of the results and reflects the imminent emancipation of the country from the group of least developed countries and the transition to business cooperation. The project also has the ambition to apply and popularize Czech technologies and solutions in the practice of Cambodian agriculture. Agriculture is one of the key sectors of the Cambodian economy, generating more than 20% of the country's GDP and employing about 3 million inhabitants. The province of Battambang is considered one of the key centers of agricultural production, especially rice, but also a number of other commodities.
The two-day introductory seminar ("Kick-off Meeting") was introduced on behalf of the National University of Battambang (NUBB) by its rector, Mr. Sok Khorn, who appreciated the existing cooperation with the Czech Republic and the Czech University of Life Sciences (CULS) and the fact that the project focused on modern procedures and innovative solutions strengthens this cooperation and moves it significantly further. On behalf of the Czech side, Jakub Černý, Deputy Ambassador of the Czech Republic to Cambodia, recalled the quality of the bilateral relations between the two countries, which will celebrate its seventieth anniversary next year, and also emphasized the priority position of Cambodia in the Czech Republic's development aid strategy. The opening was attended by the Deputy Governor and other representatives of the Battambang Province Administration and representatives of several key ministries (especially the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries). A memorandum of cooperation within the project was also signed, signed by Rector Sok Khorn on behalf of NUBB and Prof. David Herák on behalf of CULS.
The Czech University of Life Sciences is the Coordinator and main implementer of the project. Specifically, the Faculty of Tropical AgriSciences and the Faculty of Engineering are involved. The focus of the activities of the first one lies mainly in the analysis of the agricultural sector of the province and the functioning of local cooperatives associating small farmers, modelling production strategies with higher added value and related education and training, while the second will focus mainly on the use and application of modern technologies in the agricultural practice of the province. Practical support, especially in local activities and work with farming communities, will be provided by the Czech NGO BAIDE and its local partner LHCO. Cambodian entity Kokopon and its partnering Czech company BRAINCHAIN, cooperating as implementers of another promising B2B project focused on the processing of mangoes, cashews and dragon fruits, will share their experience in the field of digitization of Cambodia agriculture. Within the technology segments, the CZU is in coordination with the Association of Agricultural and Forestry Machinery and counts on addressing its members regarding specific proposals of technological solutions applicable in agricultural activities and especially the subsequent processing of production. Probably one of the most attractive technologies used in the project will be the application of drone monitoring and evaluation of outputs obtained using sensors in the environment of Cambodian agriculture.