USAID Cambodia MSME Project: Swine Industry Strategy Summary Report

Prior to the project's involvement, the industry faced issues such as adulterated medicines and vaccines, high mortality rates, and poor relations between traders and producers. However, through a four-year initiative across multiple provinces in Cambodia, the industry has made notable progress. Local input suppliers now carry high-quality animal feed, medicines, and vaccines, and working groups and associations have been formed in certain areas to represent business interests. The project aimed to develop a National Swine Business Strategy, with four specific objectives: creating an analytic framework to guide discussions with industry leaders, integrating key findings and recommendations into a National Swine Business Strategy document, developing a systematic approach and methodology for future industry strategies, and building the capabilities of the MSME team to perform more work for follow-on strategies. A two-phase methodology was adopted to deliver the project, with Phase One focusing on developing a strategic framework to aid analysis and hypothesis development, and Phase Two dedicated to engaging the private sector to test the hypothesis. During Phase One, the team conducted working sessions between MSME and EMC members to create a strategic framework for developing a National Swine Business Strategy. This phase included a literature review and secondary data gathering, analysis of the industry using different analytical tools, and benchmarking of data with Thailand and Vietnam. The team formed a hypothesis based on the knowledge gained during this phase, which was later tested and refined with industry players. The industry knowledge gained during this phase helped the team prepare discussion guidelines to aid data gathering during conversations and focus groups held with private sector representatives. In Phase Two, the EMC team worked alongside the MSME team to engage the private sector and test the hypothesis developed internally on what changes were necessary to improve the swine industry from the private sector's point of view. Primary data was collected on discussions and focus groups with private sector representatives and government officials, and analyzed and framed for recommendations. A team composed of MSME and EMC members visited eight different provinces in the country, including Kampong Cham, Svay Rieng, Kratie, Prey Veng, Pursat, Battambang, Siem Reap, and Kampong Thom. The main format of the group discussions were focus groups, which were implemented in the eight provinces with a total of 92 participants, all representatives of the swine industry value chain. The project involved more than 100 stakeholders from all areas, including breeders, fatteners, feed producers, feed traders, slaughterhouse representatives, vet providers, and retailers. Key players in the industry, including CP, BKP, WorldVet, Central Vet, and 999, were invited for meetings. The swine business strategy was refined through meetings with the private sector, and strategy was framed according to the issues and suggestions provided. Refined recommendations were formed, and the project aimed to build the capabilities of the MSME team to perform more work for follow-on strategies.