I am originally from the Battambang province, west of the country.  I was born into a farming family who make a living by farming.  After I graduated, I was employed as a tour guide in the Angkor area of Siem Reap.  I often met many foreigners who were interested in cashew nuts. This industry and form of farming has interested me greatly for quite some time.  Whilst many foreigners are interested in their own investment opportunities in cashew industry in Cambodia, as a native Cambodian, I am more interested in the opportunities for native-born Cambodians such as myself, investing in local opportunities, for the benefit of Cambodia and local citizens.

Cashew nuts are grown by local farmers in villages near their homes, and at their plantations. Every harvest season, farmers sell raw cashew nuts to brokers and traders without any processing.  After further research and some training from organizations, important discussions about training, cultivation and the processing of cashew nuts is taking place.

Cashew Village Handicrafts was established in early 2022 in order to create more employment opportunities for local Cambodians, increase local income, and reduce the importation of raw and cooked cashew nuts from abroad into Cambodia.  It is located in Phum Prei, Khum Khnar Sanday, Banteay Srei district, Siem Reap province. Phum Chanty-Cashew Village Handicrafts is able to supply cooked nuts, semi-finished and raw nuts to both local and foreign customers, ensuring that the nuts have both taste and quality.  This increases Cambodia’s exporting capacity, and reduces the importation of raw cashew nuts which we are able to locally produce and process.

Phum Chanty-Cashew Village Handicrafts is enabling substantial opportunity for local job creation through the processing of locally grown cashew nuts within Cambodia.   In the past, many locals, especially women and young people have had to migrate and work away from their homes and families in order to gain employment and income.  Sometimes, this results in women and young people migrating as far away as Thailand in search of employment.  The creation of local employment for local people significantly benefits Cambodia socially by enabling women and young people to remain with their families, which is important for social stability.  It also enables both groups (who may otherwise struggle to find employment) to contribute financially to their families and local communities, and ultimately, the greater Cambodian economy.