Guwahati: The Cambodian government has conferred its national honour to Indian citizen Kaushik Barua, presently the country director of the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) in Cambodia and Laos, for rendering distinguished services.
Kaushik Barua has been awarded the national medal by the Cambodian government under the Royal Order of Sahametrei, conferred primarily on foreigners who have rendered distinguished services to the King and the people of Cambodia, according to the website of the United Nations in Cambodia.
Barua’s colleague Sakphouseth Meng, a Cambodian national and the country programme officer for IFAD Cambodia, was also awarded the national medal under the Royal Order of Sowathara.Both were recognised for their contributions to poverty reduction, rural development and smallholder agricultural development in Cambodia, the website said.
Barua, who is also an author of international repute, and Meng contributed to improved food security, increased household incomes and assets, primarily achieved from improvements in agricultural productivity and diversification and from investments in roads and irrigation implemented by the IFAD supported projects.
Through the IFAD country programme, Barua who hails from Assam, has also contributed to the promotion of renewable energy technologies in the region through which over 5,000 small farmers have adopted sustainable and environmentally friendly renewable energy technologies such as solar pumps, solar hatcheries and insect roasters.
Upon receiving the award, Barua said, “I am extremely grateful and honoured to receive this award from the Ministry of Agriculture and the Government of Cambodia. The credit goes to all partners who have worked tirelessly to improve the agricultural sector and contribute to rural development in Cambodia.
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