To improve the income of residents in the Chheab Leach Community Forestry area of Preah Vihear Province, where wild honey is harvested, Cambodia’s NTFP Project explored various measures to enhance the premium value of wild honey, including hygienic harvesting methods, modern processing techniques, and automated packaging systems. Through these efforts, the project achieved meaningful and tangible outcomes.
The Preah Vihear Community-Based Wild Honey Enterprise (PCBE) successfully concluded its participation in the 3-day Cambodian Product Fair, held from September 26 to September 28, 2025, at the Koh Pich Convention and Exhibition Center in Phnom Penh. This significant event provided a valuable opportunity for PCBE to showcase and sell its high-quality natural raw wild honey to the public, with more than 40 liters (56kg) sold over the course of the fair.
The visit by First Lady Lok Chumteav, Dr. Pich Chanmony Hun Manet, and the distinguished leaders, His Excellencies from the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries, was a significant recognition of PCBE’s efforts and achievements. During this occasion, the delegation commended the quality and potential of the community’s wild honey and acknowledged the dedication of PCBE members in promoting authentic Cambodian natural products. This recognition from national leaders marks an encouraging step forward for the community enterprise.
It is important to note that, with the support of the Forestry Administration and AFoCO, PCBE has undergone a significant transformation. The enterprise has shifted from traditional processing methods—where honey was placed in plastic bottles and containers without product labels or a trademark—to currently utilizing stainless steel equipment and storage tanks and packaging the product in glass jars with quality labels and a trademark. This change ensures a commitment to high standards of quality, hygiene, safety, and aesthetic appeal for all PCBE products.
Along with their remarks, the First Lady and accompanying leaders shared valuable recommendations to support PCBE’s sustainable growth and enhance its competitiveness in the wider market.
Strengthening Digital Promotion: Advising the enterprise to create and post more content on social media detailing the process of collecting and processing the wild honey, from the forest to the consumer’s hand. This will help raise awareness, ensure product transparency, and facilitate the search for both national and international business partners.
Product Registration and Quality Control: Encouraging PCBE to register the product accurately and submitting honey samples to a laboratory for testing to ensure high quality and safety, in accordance with market standards.
