Phnom Penh (FN), September 28 - The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved a $50 million in additional financing to help boost agricultural productivity and improve smallholder farmers’ access to markets in 271 communes in Tonle Sap Basin, which is prone to natural calamities.

According to ADB's press release on Thursday, the Tonle Sap Rural Poverty Reduction and Growth Project received its first approval in December 2009 with a total amount of US $51.15 million.

This project has supported development activities as well as promoting agricultural work and livelihoods of 196 communes in five provinces, including Banteay Meanchey, Kampong Cham, Kampong Thom, Siem Reap, and Tboung Khmum.

The additional support will add a disaster risk management element to the program and help expand it to cover 75 more communes in Kampong Thom and two new provinces, Battambang and Prey Veng.

"The additional financing will help the government further improve agriculture productivity, diversify Tonle Sap Basin’s economy to benefit smallholder farmers, and come up with development initiatives that reflect the needs of local communities," said Thuy Trang Dang, ADB's Water Resource Specialist.

"Communities with more weather-resistant infrastructure will be able to quickly recover from natural disasters,” Thuy added.

Regarding the importance of agriculture, Cambodia's poverty rate has decreased to below 14% in 2014 from 53% in 2004.

The project is co-financed by US$10 million from the International Fund for Agricultural Development and the government equivalent to US$ 6 million.

ADB has 67 members, of which 48 are in the region. In 2016, ADB has provided a total of $31.7 billion, including $14 billion in co-financing.
=FRESH NEWS