The objective of the Natural Agri-Product Marketing Project (NAP)

The objective of the Natural Agri-Product Marketing Project (NAP) is to ensure that small farmers can get higher prices for their organic products and obtain a share of the net income, which can then be used for community development or collective purposes. It also improves consumers’ access to healthy, organic food. The main activities and services of NAP are:

• Marketing of natural (organic) agricultural products in Phnom Penh and other urban areas;
• Assisting rice farmers to organize themselves in village-based producer groups, inter-village clusters and a national network;
• Capacity building among the representatives of producer groups to enhance their leadership and management skills and improve their knowledge about organic farming methods, as well as marketing. Likewise they learn how to carry out internal quality controls;
• Assisting producer groups to put in place internal control systems;
• Raising consumers’ awareness about natural agricultural products, fair trade and community development; and
• Organizing field visits for interested consumers, building consumer networks and recruiting student volunteers.

Currently, about 3600 families from Takeo, Kampot, Kampong Speu, Kampong Cham Kampong Thom, Prey Veng and Svay Rieng provinces are involved in 434 organic SRI rice producer groups. The members follow CEDAC’s strict Basic Organic Standard. During the recent harvest of 2007-2008 they sold around 1200 tons of rice (paddy) to NAP. The farmers receive a price that is at least 10 percent higher than what they would normally receive for their products. In addition, each village-based producer group receives a share of the net income from NAP for collective use, community development or other social or environmental purposes. In 2007, CEDAC allocated more than 20 million riels (about US$5,000) to the community, and in 2008 we expect to allocate more than 100 million riels due to the increased supply and higher rice price.

In addition to rice, CEDAC is working with organic vegetable, fruits, meat from raising chickens and pigs, palm sugar, pepper and fish paste producers. Our long-term goal is to operate NAP as a store specialized in marketing of organic and locally produced food.

NAP is operating a shop in Phnom Penh at House No.689B, Kampuchea Krom Boulevard. In the near future, when supply increases, distribution and sale of NAP rice in Phnom Penh and other urban areas will be expanded. The second NAP shop is expected to open in June 2008 in Phnom Penh.

The key partners and supporters of the Natural Agriculture Products shop are Oxfam GB, Oxfam America and DED (German Development Service). From 2007 to 2009, CEDAC has grant support from the U.S. Department of State to expand its organic SRI marketing initiative. This grant emerged in the framework of the SEED Award CEDAC received in 2005. CIIFAD/Cornell University is also assisting CEDAC in linking NAP initiative with markets in the U.S. (such as Lotus Food) and in Europe.

An expert from the German Senior Expert Service (SES) helped to advise NAP in 2005 and a Marketing Advisor from DED has been working with NAP since October 2006. JICA, JFPR/ADB, Oxfam GB and America, AFD, EED, GAA, ACT and LDSC are key donors to CEDAC in building capacity of producer groups in Takeo, Kampong Speu, Kampong Cham, Kampong Thom, Kampot, Kampong Chhnang, Prey Veng, Svay Rieng.

• Training of Trainers Course on System of Rice Intensification (SRI)
• CEDAC opens its new Natural Agri-Product (NAP)
• implementing the Saving for Self-Reliance in Pailin (SfRiP)