AIMS Project allocates $1.5 million to boost agricultural value chains

AIMS Project allocates $1.5 million to boost agricultural value chains

The Accelerating Inclusive Markets for Smallholders (AIMS) Project, implemented by the Ministry of Commerce, has allocated $1.5 million in grant financing to strengthen the Khmer chicken, safe vegetables and premium rice value chains across 18 provinces.

The 2026 investment, distributed through the project’s Value Chain Innovation Fund Window 1, builds on results from 2025, when nearly $1 million was disbursed to 686 rural households acting as “first movers” to test commercially viable technologies.

Following those outcomes, the project is expanding support to an additional 1,400 households this year while introducing support for the premium rice value chain.

Domestic Trade General Department Director General and AIMS Project Director Eng Sothyvon said the new grant reflects a firm commitment to accelerating inclusive market development for rural smallholders.

“By reducing investment risks and promoting practical, market-oriented solutions, we are enabling rural smallholders, particularly women and poorer households, to adopt improved technologies, increase productivity and strengthen their linkages to reliable markets,” Sothyvon said.

International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) Country Director and Representative to Cambodia, Frew Behabtu, noted that as the organisation and Cambodia mark 30 years of partnership this year, the funding underscores the importance of sustained rural investment. He said the focus remains on helping smallholders achieve deeper market integration, expanding rural employment and strengthening economic resilience, with particular attention to women and vulnerable groups.

Through the innovation fund, the project reduces the financial barriers faced by rural smallholders in adopting productivity-enhancing technologies and meeting market standards. By supporting early adopters to demonstrate successful business models, the project promotes wider replication without long-term subsidies.

As of the first quarter of this year, total disbursements under the fund’s first window had reached $6.21 million, benefiting 5,271 rural households nationwide since the project’s inception. Investments have focused on high-impact commodities, particularly safe vegetables, backyard and Khmer chicken, and rice seed production. These include support for net house systems in vegetable production and technical packages in chicken production, helping farmers manage risks and meet market requirements.

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