Cambodia’s Fisheries Administration (FiA) representative Nget Toch speaks to hatchery owners ata CAST training about the status of snakehead fish cultivation in Cambodia and FiA strategies for aquaculture. CAST hosted the June training at Rathada Farms Hatchery, an ASA/WISHH strategic partner near Siem Reap, Cambodia.

WISHH’s USDA-funded Commercialization of Aquaculture for Sustainable Trade in Cambodia (CAST) Project recently trained  leaders and staff from seven Cambodian hatcheries, while practicing COVID-19 social distancing and good hygiene.

CAST held its first multi-day training on June 10 – 11, offering important management techniques to seven hatcheries from the provinces of Siem Reap, Battambang and Pursat.

Cambodia’s Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF) Fisheries Administration (FiA) joined the training as part of its strong relationship with CAST. Deputy Director General of Fisheries Administration/MAFF Hav Viseth, Ph.D. gave the welcome speech. Director of Department of Aquaculture Development Thay Somony introduced FiA’s Aquaculture Strategic Plan during the first morning session.

CAST was honored to have His Excellency Has Sareth, who is the MAFF Secretary of State of Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, also visit the hatchery management training on June 11. His Excellency encouraged hatchery owners to consistently produce high-quality fingerlings for sustainability of aquaculture production in Cambodia and to reduce the number of imported fishes from neighboring countries.

During the two-day workshop, CAST’s team provided technical and management training, including farm and budget planning, practical ways to calculate fingerling production and growth as well as good sampling techniques. CAST is looking forward to providing more technical training to fish producers and hatcheries as the COVID 19 situation improves.

Increasing the availability of Cambodian-grown, high-quality fingerlings can help these family owned businesses improve their profits as well as help overcome the overall economic impacts of the COVID-19 crisis. Moreover, the Royal Government of Cambodia is supporting farmers to produce local fish by making special financing available through the Agricultural and Rural Development Bank.