ABSTRACT
Conflict can trap a country in poverty and economic stagnation. This chapter presents a case study of agriculture’s role in post-conflict Cambodia. Opportunities exist for improving rural livelihoods in Cambodia through the livestock sector. Even more promising is the rice sector, but only if rice milling (processing) can emerge and replace large unofficial exports of husked rice to neighbouring countries (primarily Vietnam). Value addition has not been Cambodia’s forte. Agriculture’s primacy is undeniable, given that it is the only sector capable of absorbing the 300,000 entrants joining the labour force each year. Agriculture is paramount in the Cambodian economy, accounting for 40 per cent of GDP. To Cambodians, agriculture is not only a way of life but a tool to ensure survival. Unfortunately, investments (for instance in markets, transport, processing) have been too few and far between to unleash the potential of the agriculture sector owing to weak state capacity and poor governance.
