FAIR TRADE
PALM SUGAR
FAIR TRADE
PALM SUGAR
Building Value Chain
of Cambodian Palm Sugar Business
HESED and CCONMA are participating in IBS (Inclusive Business Solution) program, one of the KOICA (Korea International Cooperation Agency) ODA projects. The IBS project is based on strategic partnerships for the common goal of addressing the social development challenges faced by low-income people in developing countries while providing them with employment and business opportunities.
Through the KOICA IBS project, Hesed has set up Greenhouses in three villages in Kampong Speu, which are needed during the drying phase of the production of Palm sugar.
Previously, palm sugar was produced by individual farms, so it could not be hygienically dried because there were no proper places and tools, and it took a lot of time to dry with powder-type palm sugar and limited amount to dry at once. To improve this, Hesed built the Greenhouse.
Greenhouse is a suitable model for Cambodia, where electricity supply is not smooth because it uses solar power. Furthermore. it can dry about 200-300kg more hygienically than before. Greenhouse's advantages include reduced drying time, minimized ross rate, improved hygiene, minimized weather resistance, improved product quality, maintained 80-90% of ingredients in food, easy temperature setting, and increased product value. It is also a polycarbonate material, not a regular plastic, and is durable for 10 years, which is highly sustainable due to low maintenance costs.
Farmers' palm sugar production is expected to increase through Greenhouse, and other crops can be dried and used, so farmers are also very satisfied.
Mr. Earl, the leader of the Kampong Speu Palm Sugar Cooperative, expressed his gratitude, saying he was happy to learn how to use the green house and was happy to participate in the Palm Sugar business with Hesed.
