Retreat of the Technical Working Group on Agriculture and Water (TWG-AW)
On 7-8 February 2022 CFAP Chairman Mr. Prum Samat joined in the retreat of the Technical Working Group on Agriculture and Water co-organized by the Ministry of Agriculture Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF) and the Ministry of Water Resource and Meteorology (MOWRAM) in Siem Reap city.
The retreat this year focused on key topics i.e. (1). to review the status and progress of the TWG-AW and (2). discuss and approve TWG-AW’s work plan for 2022 and (3). other businesses involved. The Technical Working Group on Agriculture and Water (TWG-AW) established in 2004 by the Royal Government of Cambodia (RGC) to serve as a coordinating bodies and dialogue mechanism with the support of a secretariat, now co coordinate by FAO and IFAD. They bring together government, development partners and civil society representatives to support the attainment of the National Development Goals set out in the Rectangular Strategy, NSDP and associated sector, thematic and reform program of the Royal Government of Cambodia (RGC).
According to the TWG-AW, therefore the TWG-AW does not replace or duplicate the tasks and responsibilities of line departments or line ministries. The TWG-AW has her roles to facilitate dialogue, meetings and coordinating external resources to achieve the indicators in the sectoral plans, especially the indicators in the Joint Monitoring Indictors (JMIs) which agreed by both co chairs and co development partner facilitators – FAO and IFAD.
This working group still depend much on official development assistant (ODA) to have achieved the indicators and associated activities. CFAP as the farmers’ organization has to cover herself to participate in the meeting to speak on behalf of farmers and farming communities. There were 70 participants attended the retreat of the TWG-AW 2021 come from Ministry of Agriculture Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF), Ministry of Water Resource and Meteorology (MOWRAM), Ministry of Economy and Finance (MEF), Ministry of Land Management, Urban Planning and Construction (MOLMUPC), Ministry of Rural Development, Ministry of Industry, Science, Technology and Innovation, Ministry of Mines and Energy, FAO as co DP facilitator, IFAD as co DP facilitator, ADB, Australia Embassy, GIZ, JICA, KOICA, SDC, UNDP, USAID, WB, WFP, SNV, NGOF, CFAP, FNN, KHI, EU, IRRI and CAVAC.
The meeting co presided over by H.E Hean Vanhan, a secretary of state of MAFF and H.E Thor Chetha, a secretary of state of MOWRAM.
The progress results of the TWG-AW will report to the Ministry of Agriculture Forestry and Fisheries – MAFF for consideration and extension the report to the Royal Government of Cambodia (RGC) of all concerns and measures for actions.
The TWG-AW in 2021 had discussed and finalized on the Agricultural Development Policy (ADP) 2021-2030 and the policy was presented in the annual retreat as well.