Intersnack, a prominent snack manufacturer in Europe, has committed to acquiring dried cashew products from the Cambodian Agricultural Cooperative Corporation (CACC), marking a significant development for Cambodia’s cashew industry. This agreement, signed alongside Singapore-based Intersnack and Agricultural Cooperatives from Preah Vihear Province, is designed to elevate the profile of Cambodian cashews on the international stage.
The formalization of this partnership took place last week, involving key figures such as CACC Managing Director Kan Kunthy, Intersnack’s Procurement Director Wim Schipper, and a representative from Preah Vihear’s Agricultural Cooperatives. High-profile attendees included Mey Kalyan, Senior Advisor to the Supreme National Economic Council and CACC Board Chairman, Thon Sorita of the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries in Preah Vihear, and Song Saran, CEO of Amru Rice.
The memorandum of understanding (MoU) delineates the roles of each party: local farmers as producers, CACC as the coordinator for processing and exporting, and Intersnack as the purchaser. This collaboration is poised to benefit nearly 2,000 smallholder farmers by providing them with a reliable market and enhancing the global presence of Cambodian cashew nuts.
Additionally, CACC and the Agricultural Cooperatives in Preah Vihear inked a contract farming agreement, promising to support the production and supply of 1,700 tonnes of raw and dried cashew nuts. This initiative encompasses cooperatives in the Rovieng, Chey Sen, and Choam Ksant districts, underpinned by the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries of Preah Vihear and the International Volunteers of Yamagata since 2016.
Despite a 9.9 percent decrease in raw cashew nut exports last year, totaling 425,977 tonnes, the Cambodian government remains optimistic. The National Policy on Cashew Nuts for 2022-27 aims to boost the production of value-added cashew products, offering a brighter outlook for local farmers.
This partnership between Cambodian producers and a key European buyer not only promises economic benefits for local farmers but also signifies Cambodia’s growing influence in the global agricultural market, particularly in the cashew sector.
Source: Khmer Times
