CAC News
PREAH VIHEAR — The Cashew Nut Association of Cambodia (CAC), led by Chairman Silot Uon, in cooperation with UT Crop Protection Co., Ltd., organized a community-level training session for cashew farmers in Roveang district, Preah Vihear province, on September 17, 2026, as part of efforts to improve productivity and strengthen farmers' preparedness for climate challenges.
The training brought together 40 participants and formed part of CAC's broader farmer-outreach program being implemented at the community level through its provincial branches across Cambodia.
The program is designed to help cashew farmers prepare for the challenges associated with the anticipated “Super El Niño” conditions while strengthening practical knowledge and farm-management skills.
Focus on Productivity and Farm Profitability
The training covered a range of topics, including yield improvement, fertilizer management, climate-resilient farming, modern cultivation techniques, farm economics, pest and disease management, and agricultural mechanization.
Farmers were encouraged to adopt more systematic approaches to farm management to improve yields while increasing profitability and household income.
Trainers emphasized that improving productivity can help farmers reduce production costs per unit, strengthen competitiveness and contribute to the development of Cambodia's agricultural sector.
Rather than focusing solely on increasing the amount of fertilizer applied, participants were encouraged to consider the overall requirements of their cashew trees and use agricultural inputs according to crop needs.
Understanding Plant Nutrition and Yield
A key topic was the relationship between plant nutrition and cashew yields.
Trainers explained that each cashew variety has a genetic yield potential, meaning that there is a practical limit to how much production a particular variety can achieve under given conditions.
Farmers were therefore encouraged to monitor whether additional fertilizer and other inputs are generating meaningful increases in production.
As yields approach the practical production potential of a plantation, applying additional inputs may result in diminishing returns, increasing production costs without generating a proportional increase in yield.
This approach aims to help farmers make better economic decisions and improve the efficiency of their use of fertilizer and other agricultural inputs.
Mechanization and Pest Management
The workshop also highlighted the role of agricultural mechanization in reducing labour requirements and improving overall farm efficiency.
Participants were encouraged to strengthen regular monitoring of pests and diseases and take timely action when problems are detected.
Early identification and appropriate intervention can help prevent pest and disease problems from developing into larger production losses, while reducing unnecessary use of agricultural inputs.
CAC to Promote Farmer-Made Organic Foliar Fertilizer
As part of its continuing farmer-support activities, CAC announced plans to conduct another practical training session next month focused on farmer-made organic foliar fertilizer.
The upcoming training will demonstrate how farmers can produce affordable foliar fertilizer themselves using locally accessible materials.
CAC said the initiative aims to help farmers reduce input costs, improve the affordability of crop nutrition and strengthen climate resilience at the farm level.
The training in Roveang reflects CAC's continued efforts to bring practical technical knowledge directly to farming communities and strengthen the capacity of Cambodian cashew farmers to improve productivity, reduce production costs and adapt to increasingly challenging climate conditions.
