His Excellency Has Sareth of the Royal Government of Cambodia’s Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries joins CAST at Rathada Hatchery to discuss aquaculture for economic, health and trade potential. Photo credit: PNN News

The Royal Government of Cambodia’s Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF) partnered with ASA/WISHH to elevate the importance of aquaculture for COVID-19 economic recovery, as well as promote farm-raised fish as a protein-rich food for the health of Cambodia’s growing population.

MAFF Secretary of State Has Sareth visited WISHH’s USDA-funded Commercialization of Aquaculture for Sustainable Trade (CAST) Cambodia project partner, Rathada Farms Hatchery. His Excellency’s visit was in conjunction with CAST training on June 11.

Discussions during His Excellency’s visit included the role of soy for aquaculture and why U.S. soybean growers are engaged in trade-building activities through WISHH and USDA. His Excellency also witnessed how fish inside Cambodia’s first in-pond raceway aquaculture system are growing at more than double the rate of fish produced with traditional Cambodian aquaculture feeding practices.

WISHH leveraged Missouri soybean grower checkoff funds that supported technical assistance in the planning and construction of the raceway, which is a channel for continuous flow of water to grow fish. With WISHH expert guidance, Rathada Farms installed the raceway this spring.

The family owned business is also a demonstration site for WISHH’s CAST activities. Their fish devour extruded soy-based feeds manufactured in Cambodia by a U.S. soy customer that launched the first line of aquaculture feeds in the nation.