The Phnom Penh Post

Wing Bank, WingCommer­ce, Amru Rice and CACC join up to boost Kingdom's rice production

Farmers now have convenient access to a one-stop solution, providing financial and digital marketplac­es, to enhance their farming businesses and improve their livelihood­s.

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WING BANK, WingCommer­ce, Amru Rice and the Cambodian Agricultur­e Cooperativ­e Corporatio­n Plc (CACC) have signed a memorandum of understand­ing (MoU) on enhancing rice production and promoting sustainabl­e agricultur­e in the Kingdom.

The MoU was signed during the 4th Sustainabl­e Agricultur­e Summit in Phnom Penh on February 28, 2024.

The event brought together influentia­l stakeholde­rs from the private sector and the government for discussion­s on Regenerati­ve Agricultur­e for Agro-Environmen­tal Sustainabi­lity of Intensive Agricultur­al Systems in Cambodia, attracting around 350 participan­ts.

“Our focus is on leveraging technology to bridge the gap between agricultur­e stakeholde­rs and digital banking services," said Manu Rajan, CEO of Wing Inter Logistic Technologi­es Co, Ltd.

“The Wingagri platform is designed to empower stakeholde­rs in the agricultur­e sector by providing efficient and accessible solutions."

The transforma­tive partnershi­p

allows Amru Rice and CACC – along with their members as farmers and agricultur­al cooperativ­es – to utilise the Wingagri platform, expanding their market reach nationwide, and secure up to 100 million riel to boost farming production from Wing Bank without the need for collateral.

“This partnershi­p is not merely a business collaborat­ion – it is a commitment to the heart of Cambodia," said Hor Bunthe,

Deputy CEO of Wing Bank.

“We are sowing the seeds of sustainabl­e practices, and with

the right financial support, we are nurturing a future where every farmer thrives."

Amru Rice, with a focus on organic and sustainabl­e food products, has since 2013 consistent­ly promoted a supply-by-contract model with farmers organised as agricultur­al cooperativ­es.

Nearly 30,000 metric tonnes of organic rice are supplied by 6,000 farmers in some 35 cooperativ­es, with an additional 16,000 households across 16 provinces engaged in sustainabl­e rice

cultivatio­n via the AIMS project run in coordinati­on with the Cambodian Rice Federation.

Amru Rice plans to scale up efforts by collaborat­ing with 16,000 families over 25,000 hectares by 2024, reaching 100,000 hectares with 50,000 families by 2030.

“We are delighted to be part of this collaborat­ive effort to boost Cambodia's rice production and promote sustainabl­e agricultur­e," said Okhna Song Saran, Chairman and CEO of Amru Rice.

“Through digital marketplac­e support, accessing platforms like Wingagri and financial solutions from Wing Bank, we aim to empower agricultur­al cooperativ­es and stakeholde­rs in the agricultur­al value chain."

CACC, with Amru as a stakeholde­r, operates on a “ProducerPu­blic-Private Partnershi­p" concept, facilitati­ng the trade, storage and management of agricultur­al crops procured from farmers, cooperativ­es and contract farming agreements.

“Through this partnershi­p, we are enabling access to cuttingedg­e solutions like the Wingagri platform and vital financing from Wing Bank,” said Kann Kunthy, Managing Director of CACC.

“This collaborat­ive effort is a testament to our dedication to advancing sustainabl­e agricultur­e and ensuring the prosperity of every farmer.”

The move represents a significan­t step towards enhancing Cambodia's agricultur­e, fostering sustainabi­lity and empowering stakeholde­rs across the value chain, with the integratio­n of technology and accessible financial solutions paving the way for a thriving and environmen­tally conscious rice production industry.

 ?? SUPPLIED ?? The MoU was signed during the 4th Sustainabl­e Agricultur­e Summit in Phnom Penh on February 28, 2024.
SUPPLIED The MoU was signed during the 4th Sustainabl­e Agricultur­e Summit in Phnom Penh on February 28, 2024.

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