Cambodia’s Cassava in Regional Value Chain

Project Objective

The main objectives of the study are:

• To examine the existing cassava post-production value chain in Cambodia and identify associated challenges and constraints.
• To explore potential opportunities and strategies to improve the value chain and increase the competitiveness of Cambodia’s cassava in the regional market.

Project Description

Cassava is a key agricultural commodity in Cambodia, where it ranks second only to rice in terms of production and consumption. The cassava sector in Cambodia offers significant opportunities for improving food security, rural livelihoods, and bioenergy development. However, the sector faces several post-harvest challenges that affect its quality and profitability. One of the main issues is the rapid deterioration of cassava roots after harvest, which occurs within 12-72 hours after detachment from the plant. Due to limited processing capacity (often at small or medium scale), Cassava produced is observed to be exported at low-value such as chips and starch and in which restricts the potential for value addition and diversification of the industry.