From May to August 2025, Ek Sreykhouch, PhD student and member of the Cooperative Research Group, carried out a successful field visit to Battambang province, Cambodia, as part of the SmartAgriCambodia project. The fieldwork involved semi-structured interviews with leaders from 28 active agricultural cooperatives, selected through a screening process from an initial list of 77 registered cooperatives. These interviews provided insights into the cooperatives' management, membership, business activity, technology use, and financial resources.
The data collection also included direct engagement with academic institutions, local government officials, and NGOs through three focus group discussions (FGDs), all held during the kick-off meeting at National University of Battambang. These discussions enriched the research by capturing a wide range of perspectives on challenges, opportunities, and supporting mechanisms related to cooperative development. The findings will inform evidence-based recommendations for improving cooperative governance, enhancing access to markets, and increasing climate resilience, contributing directly to the project’s goals of promoting smart agriculture and sustainable rural transformation in Cambodia.
