Phnom penh: A society where people enjoy food security and adequate nutrition is a strong, resilient, united, developed, and socially stable society. Conversely, a society facing food insecurity and malnutrition cannot maintain peace, well-being, or the mental and physical health of its people.

According to Agence Kampuchea Presse, Prime Minister Samdech Moha Borvor Thipadei Hun Manet made the remarks in a message to his compatriots on the occasion of the 12th National Nutrition Day (Nov. 6, 2014 – Nov. 6, 2025).

The Cambodian Premier highlighted this year’s theme, ‘Nutrition for Peace, Peace for Nutrition,’ emphasising that peace has had a positive impact on people’s daily lives by enabling them to access sufficient, safe, and nutritious food. Without peace, he said, citizens would not be able to farm or sustain their livelihoods to achieve food and nutrition security.

He reaffirmed the Royal Government’s commitment to promoting modern agriculture, ensuring food security and nutrition, improving citizens’ quality of life, and advancing overall well-being.

Samdech Thipadei also advised the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries to boost productivity and product quality, adopt sustainable cultivation practices, apply modern technology, and encourage farmers to produce safe food.

He instructed the Ministry of Health to strengthen nutrition education, especially for pregnant women and mothers, and to closely monitor child health. The Ministry of Commerce and relevant institutions, he added, must ensure food safety based on the ‘farm to fork’ principle, while the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports should continue promoting student nutrition through school meal programmes and prohibit energy drink products in schools.

The Prime Minister further encouraged families to grow crops, raise animals, and consume local products. He also urged that food production and distribution adhere to hygiene and safety standards, following the slogan: ‘Eat clean, drink clean, live clean.’