Project News

The Project of Capacity Building for Quality Standard Control of Agricultural Materials (Chemical Fertilizers and Pesticides) – QCAM Project – had its Joint Terminal Evaluation conducted by JICA and the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF) of Cambodia from February 9-22, 2012. The mission objectives were to evaluate the overall achievements of the QCAM Project, to identify remaining issues, to recommend appropriate measures to be taken by relevant government agencies after the completion of the QCAM Project, and to identify lessons learned from the QCAM Project in order to make any future projects more effective and efficient. The mission members were officials of the Rural Development Department and JICA Cambodia Office. In addition, four Filipino representatives, from the Department of Agriculture (DA), the Fertilizer and Pesticide Authority (FPA), the Bureau of Plant Industry (BPI) and the Bureau of Soils and Water Management (BSWM) joined the mission as observers. They have been implementing partners for the QCAM Project since it began.

During the terminal evaluation, the Filipino members visited the three laboratories of chemical fertilizers and pesticides in the Department of Agricultural Legislation (DAL) and the General Directorate of Agriculture (GDA), where their colleagues had been working to train the Cambodian laboratory staff. The laboratory staffs were asked several questions about their activities. In particular, Ms. Maria Lourdes De Mata, Chief of National Analytical Laboratory in the BPI, seemed very satisfied to see the improvement in the organization and condition of the laboratories since her last visit before the start of the QCAM Project.

Mission members of the Joint Terminal Evaluation and Dr. Kazuhiko Yagi, Chief Advisor of the QCAM Project, interviewing a pesticide retailer in Kien Svay District, Kandal Province.

Filipino mission members and Dr. Yagi checking pesticides at a shop in Kien Svay District.

Furthermore, the Filipino members visited pesticide shops in Kien Svay District of Kandal Province and interviewed retailers and farmers. We were most impressed to see the Filipino members carefully explaining to a farmer about the importance of using protective gear when using pesticides.

On February 22, the final Joint Coordination Committee meeting was held to share information on the achievements of the QCAM Project, as well as on the results of the Joint Terminal Evaluation. In her remarks at the beginning of the meeting, Ms. Zenaida M. Villegas, Director of Project Development Service, DA, indicated it might take some time for the MAFF to sustain the gains made in the QCAM Project, but she expressed confidence that better results will surely be achieved, citing the Filipino experiences with JICA technical cooperation projects.

Mission members of the Joint Terminal Evaluation interviewing a farmer in Kien Svay District, Kandal Province.

Filipino mission members talking with a laboratory staff member (left) of the DAL.

After opening the meeting, Cambodian counterparts presented outcomes of the QCAM Project activities on laboratories, development of a law and regulations on management of chemical fertilizers and pesticides and awareness-raising on proper use and selection of these agricultural materials. After their presentations, the results of the Joint Terminal Evaluation were reported to the participants by the mission members. In evaluating the Project, the mission members noted that although there are some areas to improve regarding the financial and technical sustainability of the laboratories, the efficiency of the QCAM Project was very high and strong positive impacts were observed. The mission recommended that MAFF integrate the fertilizer laboratory in DAL into the National Agriculture Laboratory in GDA. MAFF accepted this recommendation and agreed to discuss the issue inside the ministry. Finally, H.E. San Vanty, Under Secretary of MAFF and the Project Director of the QCAM Project, closed the meeting by saying that he would like to request that JICA continue to support MAFF as it implements the evaluation mission's recommendations, such as integrating the laboratories and making the integrated laboratory a semi-autonomous entity.

We were pleased that the Filipino members were able to come and participate in the Joint Terminal Evaluation and to observe the achievements of our project because the QCAM Project could not have reached its current stage without their full support throughout the project period.

Although the QCAM Project comes to an end in March, 2012, we sincerely hope that the MAFF will establish a basis for good collaboration on the management of agricultural materials with all the stakeholders, and properly manage them4 by making full use of the outcomes of the QCAM Project. In this way, all farmers will be able to properly, effectively and safely use the agricultural materials in this country in the near future.

Participants of the final JCC meeting.

Written by Toshinori Hamaguchi, Technical Expert