PHNOM PENH: Secretary of State for the Ministry of Agriculture Yang Saing Koma said that in March 2024, the Ministry of Agriculture will recruit 800 commune agriculture officers, with plans to recruit 1,600 by the beginning of 2025.

in a video released on January 10, the Secretary of State said that 250 commune agriculture officers will soon be sent to 17 communes. The Ministry will train the officers for one month, before they are deployed in March. The officers will then continue to receive monthly training. The training will involve lessons on disseminating information, working with farmers, gathering relative information, cultivation techniques, animal husbandry and aquaculture.

Yang Saing Koma said, “Overall, the commune agriculture officer is more of a coordinating role than a technical expert. The Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, will set up multi-skills training to provide additional techniques.”

The Secretary of State said that the commune agriculture officers will need to establish warm relations with farmers as their role involves determining the challenges and needs of farmers in order to find solutions from professional institutions and support production related to the supply chain. The officials will be responsible for encouraging farmers to increase production and income.