Agriculture Services Programme for an Inclusive Rural Economy and Agricultural Trade (ASPIRE-AT) is a programme of the Government of the Kingdom of Cambodia (GoKC) implemented by Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF) and financed by International Fund for Agriculture Development (IFAD), European Investment Bank (EIB) and GoKC. ASPIRE-AT builds on the success of the Agriculture Services Programme for Innovation, Resilience and Extension (ASPIRE) implemented from 2015-22.

The Project Objective of ASPIRE-AT is inclusive and sustainable agriculture sector growth based on exports and domestic markets has increased incomes of rural producers and workers. The target beneficiaries are 100,000 smallholder farmers and 25,000 landless or land-poor households ready to take advantage of employment opportunities. These groups will be reached through direct support to about 500 Producer Organizations (POs) and to small and medium agricultural enterprises (SMAEs). About 50% of beneficiaries will be women and 20% will be youth. In line with Cambodia’s population, 1.5% will be Indigenous People.

The target area of ASPIRE-AT is potentially national but the programme focuses activities in selected areas which contain clusters of activities in targeted pro-poor value chains. The initial selected value chains are (i) Vegetables for the domestic market; (ii) Native chicken for the domestic market; (iii) Maize for export; (iv) Cashew for export; (v) Fresh fruit for export; and (vi) processed fruit for export and (vii) pepper for export.

Target Value Chains & Geographical in first year

• Battambang, Pailen, Banthey Meanchey, Siem Reap (Longan, Native Chicken, Vegetable, Maize)
• Kratie, Kampong Cham, Tbong Khmum, Kampong Thom (Cashew, Native Chicken, Maize, Pepper)
• Rattanakiri, Steung Treng, Preah Vihear, Oddor Meanchey (Cashew, Native Chicken)
• Kandal, Takeo, Preh Sihanuk (Vegetable, Native chicken)
• Prey Veng, Svay Reang (Vegetable, Native chicken)