final report activities for camb

8/9/2019 Final Report Activities for Camb

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Organisation for International Dialogue KEF Project 161and Conflict Management (IDC)

Dr. Angela MeyerKaiserstrasse 50/61070 Vienna/ Austria

PROMOTING BIODIVERSITY CONSERVATIONIN CAMBODIA

Cambiodiversity


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Final Report


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TABLE OF CONTENT

1. INTRODUCTION AND OVERVIEW OF THE PROJECT......................................... 6BACKGROUND OF THE PROJECT .....................................................................................6

AIM, APPROACH AND PURPOSES OF THE PROJECT............................................................. 7PROJECT TEAM........................................................................................................... 9

2.

ACTIVITIES....................................................................................................14

2.1.MAJOR ACTIVITIES WITHIN WORK PACKAGE 1........................................................152.2.MAJOR ACTIVITIES WITHIN WORK PACKAGE 2........................................................152.3.MAJOR ACTIVITIES WITHIN WORK PACKAGE 3........................................................192.4.MAJOR ACTIVITIES WITHIN WORK PACKAGE 4........................................................262.5.MAJOR ACTIVITIES WITHIN WORK PACKAGE 5........................................................273. OUTCOMES AND IMPACT ...............................................................................283.1ANALYSIS OF ASSESSMENT RESULTS .......................................................................28 REASONS FOR THE PREDOMINANCE OF RICE IN CAMBODIA ............................................28 USE OF RICE IN CAMBODIA .......................................................................................30 CULTIVATION OF NON-RICE CROPS.............................................................................30 OBSTACLES OR BARRIERS TOWARDS FURTHER DIVERSIFICATION OF CAMBODIANAGRICULTURE 31


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IMPROVETHECONTACTSBETWEENTHEFARMERSANDTHEGOVERNMENTLEVELTOBETTERTAKEINTOCONSIDERATIONTHEFARMERSNEEDSAND

CONCERNSANDPROVIDEMORETECHNICALASSISTANCE....................................47 SUPPORTANDSTRENGTHENTHEROLEOFWOMENINRURALAREAS .............485. ABSTRACT......................................................................................................506. REFERENCES..................................................................................................527. ANNEX: ..........................................................................................................55


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List and abbreviations of mentioned organisations and treaties

CARDI Cambodian Agricultural Research and Development Institute

CEDAC Cambodian Centre for Study and Development in Agriculture

CIRAD Centre de coopration Internationale en Recherche Agronomique pour le

Dveloppement/ French Agricultural Research Centre for International Development

DED German Development Service

FAO Food and Agriculture Organisation

GERES Groupe Energies Renouvelables, Environnement et Solidarits

GRET Groupe de recherche et dchanges technologiques/ Research andTechnological Exchange Group

MAFF


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1. Introduction and Overview of the Project

Background of the project

Rice presents the predominant crop in Cambodia. Currently, about 81% ofagricultural land are devoted to rice cultivation (MAFF, 2009). As a result, everyincrease in total agricultural output closely mirrors increases in rice production.

Cambodias agricultural sector is dominated by subsistence or semi-subsistencesmallholdings. Rice not only presents a major income source but is also the mainbasis for the populations nutrition. More than 75% of the average daily caloric intakeare covered by rice and even the Khmer word for rice is synonymous for food ingeneral.

Since Cambodia has become self sufficient in rice at a national level in 1999,projects and programmes aiming at diversifying Cambodian agriculture havegradually gained momentum. In 1995, the Kingdom ratified the United NationsConvention on Biological Diversity (CBD) and is since then increasingly showingconviction to promoting sustainable development. In 2002, it signed the InternationalTreaty on Plant Genetic Resources (ITPGR), nurtured by the FAO and aiming atguaranteeing food security through the conservation, exchange and sustainable useof the world's plant genetic resources for food and agriculture.

However, non-rice crops are still not sufficiently taken into account by nationalpolicies or subject to researches, as these primarily continue to be focussed on rice-based farming systems. As a consequence, the agricultural sector is still dominated


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Finally, on the global level, the predominance of rice in Cambodias agriculture risesthe risk of limited crop-diversity and the disappearance of plant genetic resources.

In this perspective, a further diversification of Cambodias agriculture seems key forpromoting the populations balanced nutrition and well-being, fostering the countryssustainable development and economic progress as well as contributing to globalbiodiversity.

However, the feasibility of a further diversification of Cambodias agricultural sector isnot only linked to technical, agronomic and climate related circumstances. It mustalso take into consideration the conditions, concerns and expectations of the peopleconcerned, notably the farmers. The societal dimension is therefore of centralimportance, but yet often neglected by studies and research.

Aim, approach and purposes of the Project

Aim

In view of this problematic and in line with the UN Millennium Development Goals(MDG), Cambiodiversitys main aim has been to make a substantial contribution toexploring and paving the way towards a further diversification of the Cambodianagricultural sector.

In this perspective, the project has aimed to assess and analyse the major multiple


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total 180 have been interviewed in several provinces of the country, was intended tofoster a bottom-up approach in the analysis and elaboration of recommendations.

Additional 60 interviews have been conducted with policy makers and technical staff,as well as scientists, researchers and staff from international and non-governmentalorganisations, in view of complementing and comparing the farmers answers withthese groups statements and points of view.

A second approach has been to promote the cooperation of the Cambodianproject partner, RUA, with other researchers and to strengthen North-South andSouth-South contacts and networks. The focus here has particularly been set on

contacts to international researchers and institutions working on the issue ofbiodiversity, as well as to experts from other Asian countries where different modelsfor agro-diversification exist. The main activity here has been the joint participation ofthe project team at the International conference held by the EC FP6 projectDiverseeds in Kunming, China, in September 2008. This has allowed to meet andstrengthen the contacts with this project consortium composed of European, Israeli,Chinese and South-East-Asian experts in agricultural biodiversity and plant geneticresource preservation, and to present the Cambiodiversity project in view of

stimulating a discussion on best practices and their applicability on the Cambodiancase, as well as on lessons learned and experiences in other, including neighbouringcountries.2

As a third approach towards making a contribution to promoting strongeragricultural biodiversity in Cambodia, the team has jointly elaborated a set ofrecommendations, reflecting the results and outcomes from the previous projectactivities, mainly the series of interviews with farmers and other stakeholders. The


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As second purpose, the project was intended to make a contribution to thereduction of poverty in Cambodia. The project hereby emphasised the relevance of

crop diversity and agro-biodiversity for promoting and achieving major factorsrelevant for poverty alleviation, such as a balanced nutrition, food security, betterdiversified market conditions, reduced external dependencies and vulnerability foreconomic crises and shortages.

Closely linked, the team also intended to pay particular attention to relevantgender aspects and promote the role of women. This intention is primarily based onthe acknowledgement that, for long, biodiversity and sustainable development issues

have been addressed ingender neutral way, assuming that constraints impact menand women in similar ways. This has led in most cases to gender blind policies andprojects that have not been adapted to the reality and have thereby failed to addressthe specific needs and concerns of both gender groups. A third purpose ofCambiodiversity has therefore been to emphasize, by focusing on the specificsituation in Cambodia - and mainly in Cambodias countryside -, the central roleplayed by women for achieving sustainable development and efficient biodiversityconservation. Women indeed are significantly involved in local farming and crop

production, and mainly responsible for the preparation of food and the familiesnutrition. Improving their knowledge and understanding, especially as regards theimportance of balanced food choice and diets, would increase their awareness on thenecessity of diversified farming and crop-diversity. At the same time, women aremost often excluded from major decision making and policy processes, as they lackthe ability and possibilities to access appropriate channels. One of the projectsintentions has therefore been to particularly involve women in the assessment


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preparatory tasks for the assessment activities, notably by drafting the questionnairefor stakeholder interviews and the guidelines for the literature review, assisted the

analysis of results and coordinated the meetings, the attendance of the InternationalConference in China, and the information event by the end of the project.

The part of RUA, in contrast, was a more practical one, as the university completedthe assessment and the major part of the analysis activities under the cooperationand monitoring of IDC.

Project partner BOKU assisted both project partners: It contributed to themanagement activities of IDC as well as advised RUA in the assessment and

evaluation activities.

Project Management

The Organisation for International Dialogue

and Conflict Management (IDC)

(Dr. Angela Meyer) - Vienna, AUSTRIA

IDC is an interdisciplinary policy research organisation based in Vienna and


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Organisation for International Dialogue and Conflict Management (IDC)

Kaiserstrasse 50/61070 Vienna, Austria

Tel: +43.1.9900811

www.idialog.eu

Project Collaborator in Austria

University of Natural Resources and Applied Life Sciences,

Department of Applied Plant Sciences and Plant Biotechnology,

Institute of Agronomy and Plant Breeding

(DI Veronika Hager) - Vienna, AUSTRIA

The Institutes central goal is the development of integrated plant productionmethodologies that decrease the risks for environmental degradation, guarantee highproductivity and good quality for further food production. In plant breeding themethodological basis and its practical applications are investigated to develop newvarieties (genotypes) with an increased genetic potential towards, yield, quality and


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Project Collaborator in Cambodia

The Royal University of Agriculture (RUA)

(Dean Sophal Chuong)

Phnom Penh, CAMBODIA

The Royal University of Agriculture is a public administrative institution with themission to offer quality education and training programs to students and staff in ruraland agricultural fields; to conduct rural and agricultural research themes in closecooperation with local and international research institutes and industrial companies;and to create an information center for disseminating agricultural sciences andtechnology to farm communities.

The RUA Faculty of Agronomy specializes in agricultural science concerned with

theory and practice of field-crop production and soil management. Its objectives are:- through applied and basic research, to seek relevant knowledge in the area of

agronomy and agricultural sciences;

- to extend relevant knowledge and professional skills in the area of agronomyand agricultural sciences to students through an appropriate educationalcurriculum; and


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From left: Angela Meyer, Sophal Chuong, Veronika Hager (Sept. 2008)


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2. Activities

The project Cambiodiversity was structured into five work packages.

Work package 1 encompassed all coordination and management activities, includingthe production of the mid-term and the final report.Work package 2 covered all assessment and survey activities in Cambodia in form ofinterviews with farmers, policy-makers and selected stakeholders, as well as the

review of major relevant publications and the composition of the assessment report.4Work package 3 included the organization of the project meeting at Royal Universityof Agriculture in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, and the joint attendance of the projectpartners of the International Conference on Networking on conservation and use ofplant genetic resources in Europe and Asia in Kunming, China.Work package 4 focused on the elaboration of recommendations and theirpresentation in a summarizing report and on a specific Information Event at the RUA

premises in Phnom Penh at the final phase of the project.Work package 5 comprised all dissemination activities, notably the set up and regularupdate of a project website http://www.idialog.eu/index.php?page=cambiodiversityand the production and circulation of information material. (e.g. folder and poster)


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Work packages 1 and 5 run for the entire duration of the project, i.e. from April 2008until October 2009. Work package 3 had entirely been implemented during the first

reporting period (April 2008 - January 2009). While work package 2 had its essentialactivities during this first time span too, some of its activities were finalized during thesecond period (January - October 2009). Work package 4 was performed during thelast 6 months of the project.

2.1. Major activities within Work package 1

The major activities performed within work package 1 were intended to support andguarantee the coordination and administrative management of the project. Theyprimarily consisted in monitoring, overseeing and assisting the projectsadvancement and guaranteeing a work flow and progress according to the initiallyestablished work plan and the set deadlines. One major task had moreover been thepreparation of the midterm progress report and the here presented final report.


Focusing on the assessment of Cambodias agriculture, the reasons andcircumstances of the predominance of rice and possible approaches fordiversification, this work package covered three major activity clusters: (1) thepreparation of assessment activities, (2) their conduction and (3) the final evaluationand analysis.


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Interview with farmers

Afterwards, the project partners discussed the appropriateness of the questionnaires

and made minor changes and adaptations. It was agreed to begin the major part ofthe interviews after the ending of the rainy season (i.e. from end of September on), inorder to have better accessibility conditions.

The second part of work package 2, the conduction of interviews and the review ofrelevant documentation, has been started, as convened, from end of September/beginning of October on.


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ProvinceDistrictsper

Province

Name of DistrictsRespondents per

ProvinceTrach; Banteay Meas

Kandal 3 Saang; Mouk Kampoul;Pognealoeu

15

Kpg Cham 5 Tbong Khmum; Tam Be; ChamcarLeu; Kpg Siem; Prey Chhor

15

KpgChhnang 3

Kpg Chhnang; Rolea Pha Ear;Kpg Leng 15

Kpg Thom 3 Stong; Prasat Sambo; San Touk 15Kratie 3 Sam Bo; Chhlong; Sluol 15

Prey Veng 4 Kpg Leav; Peam Ro; Preas Sdach;Kpg Tra Bek 15

Ratanakiri 1 O Chhum 15

Siem Reap 2 Puok; Banteay Srey 15StungTreng

2 Siem Bok; Thala Boravath 15

Total 180

of which


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Approximate location of the district in the 12 provinces where interviews withrepresentatives of farming households took place. (map by Sophal Chuong)


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Within the provinces, the selection of districts and then communities was done atrandom. In every district, four to five households per commune were asked for

interview. To ensure the representativeness of the data collected, it was decided toconduct a total of 15 interviews with farmers in every province, making a total of 180interviews for all 12 selected provinces.

The conduction of interviews with policy makers and technical staff was sometimesretarded due to the often busy agendas of these stakeholders and the difficulty to fixappointments..

All interviews were conducted using the jointly elaborated questionnaire andaccording to the predetermined interview guideline. While few of the interviews posedany major problems, it was evident that many farmers were often reluctant to providefamily information, possibly because they had negative experiences with similartypes of surveys. After the objectives of the research were made clear to the farmers,however, it was generally very easy to discuss with them information, views and

opinions relevant to the research.

(2) Review activities

For the review, the two students, Mr. Ly Tyneth and Mr. Preap Madora, as well as thedean, Mr. Chuong Sophal, contacted the relevant libraries at the relevant ministries,academic institutions or NGO/GOs. Subsequently, documents related to cropproduction in Cambodia, to agricultural history, to past and recent crop production,


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August 31st, and subsequently participated at the International Conference, togetherwith Sophal Chuong from RUA.

In addition, and not initially foreseen in the project plan, Chuong Sophal came toVienna to attend the round table dicussion, which was coordinated by theCommission for Development Studies at the OeAD-GmbH (KEF) at April, 15th 2009.

Project Meeting in Cambodia, 25.08. - 31. 08.2008

The project meeting in Cambodia encompassed a half-day meeting at the RoyalUniversity for Agriculture to discuss the implementation of the project, to evaluatealready completed and schedule projected activities and to visit the universityspremises. Moreover, the meeting included the preparation and carrying out of firstjoint series of interviews with farmers in communes around the city of Phnom Penh.

Meeting at RUA, 26.08.2008The first project meeting of the KEF funded project Cambiodiversity was held on 26

August 2008 in the Deans office at Royal University for Agriculture.On August 26th, Angela Meyer and Veronika Hager met with their partner from RUA,Dean Sophal Chuong. They were joined by Adrian Bolliger (adviser from the GermanDevelopment Service, DED) and a group of Cambodian students involved in theimplementation of Cambiodiversity at RUA.At the beginning of the meeting, Sophal Choung and his students briefly reported onthe assessment and review activities underway. They explained their way ofproceeding for the review and evaluation of already existing material and information


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Finally, Angela Meyer and Veronika Hager visited the Facultys facilities (laboratories,

auditoriums), the Universitys experimental fields.

First series of interviews with farmers, 28. and 29.08.2008

On 28 and 29 August, a first joint series of interviews had been conducted by the

Students working in RUAs test fieldsVeronika Hager, Angela Meyer, a student

from RUA, Adrian Bolliger and SophalChuong (from left) in Sophal Chuongsoffice at RUA


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Further interviews were conducted in the commune of Krang Yov in the province of

Kandal. Kandal is one of the major vegetable producing provinces in Cambodia. Acouple of interviews were undertaken with a group of land workers and a land owner.The fields in the visited area are used for the production of sugar cane, beets, beansand lettuce. Harvest is usually sold on local markets or transported to markets in thecapital of Phnom Penh.

Finally, a last series of interviews has been conducted with a farmer family in thecommune of Tik Vil in the Kandal Province. In contrast to the previously visited

villages in this province, farmers in this area predominantly cultivate rice. Theinterviewed farmer grows rice on a total surface of apprx. 1 ha.


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(knowledge) exchange on genetic resources and their management betweenEuropean and Asian researchers and to open European research networks to Asian

experts in view of globally improving a sustainable use of plant genetic resources.The DIVERSEEDS consortium is composed of plant genetic experts from Austria,Germany, the United Kingdom, Italy, Israel, China, Thailand and Vietnam that haveclosely worked together during the 2-years duration of the project in view ofcontributing to the establishment of a strong communication and exchange platform.As a final output of the project, the consortium elaborated a set of jointrecommendations on how to improve EU-Asian cooperation in the field of plantgenetic resource management. The conference in Kunming was the second and last

meeting of the entire consortium before the projects ending by November 2008.

For the Cambiodiversity project team, the participation at this conference has beenan important possibility to meet with European and Asian experts working on differentaspects and approaches of biodiversity conservation and to present and discuss theCambiodiversity project.On 2 September, Angela Meyer and Sophal Chuong were given the floor to make a

presentation of Cambiodiversity, its aims and objectives, the different activities andthe main achievements since its start. Sophal Chuong moreover briefly outlined thecurrent situation of Cambodias agriculture and the problem related to thepredominance of rice.

The following day was used for discussion in working groups. As one of the workinggroups was focused on outlining ideas for fellow up projects and initiatives, as well aspossible synergies and networking with other projects, the Cambiodiversity partners


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Sophal Chuong, making a presentationon Cambodias agriculture and currentchallenges and concerns as majorbackground of Cambiodiversity.

Angela Meyer, giving a presentation onthe project Cambiodiversity.


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First photo from left to right: Dr. Angela Meyer, RUA-Dean Sophal Chuong, Prof. Dr. Rainer Haas,Prof. Dr. Ralph Gretzmacher / Second photo from left to right: RUA-Dean Sophal Chuong, Prof. Dr.Rainer Haas, Prof. Dr. Ralph Gretzmacher

The roundtable was opened by a presentation of the panel and

some introducing remarks by Prof. Dr. Glatzel and started withtwo presentations given by Angela Meyer on the project itself(outline, aims, activities, expected outcomes) and by SophalChuong on the current situation and challenges of Cambodia'sagriculture and some preliminary outcomes from the conductedinterviews and assessment activities.


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Based on the interviews, assessment results and inputs collected at the Information

Event in September 2009 in Phnom Penh recommendations how agriculturaldiversification could be promoted were elaborated in the second phase of theproject.6

Information Event in Phnom Penh, 23.09.2009

55 participants from different institutions discussed about strategies to promote theAgro-biodiversity in Cambodia. Attendance included representatives from the

General Direction of Agriculture of the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries(MAFF), the Cambodian Agricultural Research and Development Institute (CARDI),the Provincial Department of Agriculture of the provinces of Kampot, Kampong Speu,Kampong Cham, Kandal and Kampong Chhnang, as well as from the RoyalUniversity of Agriculture ( RUA ) and several donor organisations, such as the FrenchResearch and Technological Exchange Group (GRET) and the GermanDevelopment Service (DED) . Besides scientists and policy makers, also localfarmers were invited to show their points of view.

The Information Event ended with a Get together where all stakeholders were giventhe opportunity to meet and exchange.


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The Dissemination work package run throughout the entire duration of the project. As

major activities within the first reporting period, a project website had been set up. Itis hosted on the homepage of the Organisation for International Dialogue andConflict Management (IDC) and will be maintained also after the end of the project.

The address of the Cambiodiversity

website ishttp://www.idialog.eu/index.php?page=cambiodiversity.This site is intended to provide essentialinformation on the project, its aims,objectives and major tasks and activitiesand to briefly present the projectparticipants and their institutions.

The site has regularly been updated.


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3. Outcomes and Impact

3.1 Analysis of assessment results

In line with Cambiodiversitys overall aim to promote the understanding of thepredominant position of rice and circumstances for further crop diversification inCambodias agricultural sector, the carried out assessment activities have focused on

collecting the views and know how of farmers, scientists and other concernedstakeholders on these issues.

The interviews, conducted in the capital of Phnom Penh and in several provinces, aswell as the review of relevant literature and publications, have allowed to gather thefollowing information.

Reasons for the predominance of rice in Cambodia

In terms of respondents answers about why they were cultivating rice or theiropinions on why rice was generally so predominant,

(1) all respondent (100%) gave the need to grow rice for householdconsumption as the main reason. Several respondents explained that apart from justbeing the usual and long-established thing to do, growing their own rice was cheaper


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Background information to explain the current situation

On a national scale, the predominance of rice is rooted in historical,

cultural/traditional, political, economic and agro-ecological reasons.

Historical, cultural and traditional:

Khmer farmers have been growing rain fed rice for at least 2,000 years (possiblylonger in the case of upland rice), while irrigated rice production technologies werefirst introduced along trade routes from India about 1,500 years ago (Chandler, 1993;

Nesbitt, 1997). During the Angkor era (9th

-14th

Century), elaborate irrigation systemswere constructed which reportedly allowed up to three rice harvests per year (Pillot,2007) and the economic power of Angkor was rooted in rice agriculture. Thisperceived importance of rice has retained its predominant position in the Cambodianculture and tradition. Every year after harvest, for example, Cambodian farmerscelebrate the Dalean Ceremony to give thanks to the land and the ancestors forgranting a good rice harvest, while the Royal Ploughing Ceremony early in the year isused to predict rice yields for the coming season.

Politically and economically:

Economically and politically, rice too has played and plays a crucial role inCambodian society. A large proportion of the population is currently directlydependant on rice yields for its livelihood, both in terms of subsistence and/or forincome. Food security in Cambodian is closely associated to rice production. When,


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Use of rice in Cambodia

The primary use for the rice grown by farmers in Cambodia is for subsistence:almost half (47%) of all the farming households interviewed grew rice exclusively forhousehold consumption or stored as seed for the next season.

Nevertheless, 53% of interviewed households sold the rice that exceeded householdsubsistence, and on average just under a quarter (23%) of rice grown by all surveyedfarmers was sold. These figures are slightly higher than estimates by Ngo and Mund(Ngo/ Mund, 2006) who put the proportion of rice consumed for subsistence inCambodia at 60-65% of overall output, and considerably higher than a recent reportby the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, which put the proportion of riceused for household subsistence at 50% (MAFF, 2009).

In terms of seasonal variations in rice use, a relatively higher proportion of ricegrown during the dry season is used commercially than that of rice grown over therainy season.

Regional differences between the amount of rice that is consumed for subsistence or

sold ostensibly also relate back to the seasonal differences. Our interview data, forexample, indicated that the proportion of rice used for subsistence was virtuallyidentical among smallholder farmers of the lowland and upland regions (77%) - whichare regions where farmers sometimes sow dry season rice in addition to rainyseason rice. In contrast, it is marginally lower when compared to proportion of riceused for subsistence in the coastal province of Kampot (86%), where farmers almostexclusively grow shallow water rice in the rainy season.

Rice varieties: The farmer survey indicates that smallholder farmers rarely use a


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- Cassava is the most important root crop in Cambodia with an annualproduction of approximately 30,000 t.

- Rubber is the most important perennial crop, grown mainly on red-blackupland soils, and both cassava and rubber cultivation have enjoyedstrong growth in recent years.

- In terms of cultivated area under fruit trees, cashew, banana, coconut,mango, citrus fruits and jackfruit are the most common. Bananas aregrown in all provinces, but Kampong Cham and Kampot are the largestproducers of bananas for export. Cashew nuts are grown mainly in

Kampong Cham and Kampong Thom Provinces, while the largestcoconut cultivation occurs in Kandal and Kampot Provinces and theKampot and Takeo Provinces are the largest producers of mango.Durian, longan, sapodilla and star apple are also cultivated on smallareas, usually in home or village gardens throughout the country.

Asked about their opinions why non-rice crops were being grown, all respondents

agreed that such crops were used to complement household consumption and/or forsale. 53% stated that some non-rice crops were also grown because of the relativeshort duration from planting to harvesting. 5% said that non-rice crops were eithergood for soil fertility or for health and were hence grown for these reasons.

Obstacles or barriers towards further diversification of Cambodian


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facilities for various crops and products meant that Cambodia exported agriculturalproducts in a raw or semi-raw state to neighbouring Vietnam or Thailand, therebylosing out on the opportunity of value-adding to products and thereby making thegrowing of rice more lucrative, if not also potentially less volatile.

A further barrier to increasing the proportion of non-rice crops is related to thefact that the rainy season is used mainly to grow the rice necessary for householdsubsistence, hence leaving the dry season as the only real window to plant othercrops. The relative dearth of irrigation, however, limits off-season non-rice production- a point made by 87% of respondents. Regular flooding during the wet season in thelow-lying, densely-populated areas around the Great Lake and other waterways thatform the heartland of Cambodian agriculture, combined with the predominance ofpoorly productive sandy and acidic soils, mean that large swaths of traditionalagriculture land, while suitable for rainy season rice cultivation, are not well suited tomany other crops.

Additionally, inadequate extension services and knowledge transfer fromresearch to Cambodian farmers often mean that farmers cannot capitalise onpotential market niches or best practice technologies for non-rice crops. This results

in rice retaining a dominating position in Cambodian agriculture, although the projectsand programmes aimed at diversifying Cambodian agriculture are gradually gainingmomentum.

In addition, unrestricted livestock grazing during the dry season, which iscommon especially in Kampong Speu Province, actually destroys fields of non-ricecrops, 18% of respondents lamented.

Finally 18% of respondents also claimed that there is a lack of external


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assists farmers with finding markets for their products. CEDAC and PUAC pursueslightly different approaches. In the CEDAC model, CEDAC buyers visit farmers todirectly buy products from them. PUAC, in return, creates regional centres that washand prepare vegetables for transport and sale in the city, relying on farmers that liveclose by to bring their vegetables to the centres.

Incentive factors that could promote diversification

During the interviews with farmers and stakeholders, several factors and issues

have been raised that could serve as incentives for a further diversification ofCambodias agricultural sector.

These factors are related either to the technical and technological level, or toeconomic issues, or to the issue of knowledge, know how and expertise.

TECHNICAL ISSUES

Extension of appropriate technology packages to farmersEspecially stakeholders and knowledge gatekeepers from NGOs andthe Provincial Departments of Agriculture underlined during theinterviews the importance of direct contact between governmentextension officers and farmers. Currently, basically most extension is


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Improve the supply in seedsAsked for ways that would stimulate them to plant more non-ricecrops, 99% of smallholder farmer respondents suggested asubsidised or improved seed and tool supply. In fact, 42% ofinterviewed farmers had actually received seeds from the CEDAC,CARDI, collaborative research projects or NGOs. Additionalmeasures supported by the government could act as an additionalincentive for farmers.

KNOWLEDGE TRANSFER AND OTHER SUPPORT

Trainings83% of the interviewed farmers felt that more demonstrations andtraining in methods and techniques for growing non-rice crops wouldhelp to increase their share in Cambodian agriculture. As has beenstated above, almost two thirds of respondents mentioned that theyonly had limited know how about appropriate cultivation techniquesor systems for non-rice crops which hindered them from diversifyingtheir cultivation. In fact, just over half of respondents (54%) admittedthat they had received training from MAFF or NGOs in non-rice cropcultivation. Here again, national programs and policies do notsatisfactorily reach the expected end users.


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non-rice crops put forward by respondents was through thegovernment regulating prices, either of inputs or by instigating pricefloors for the actual produce. Improved markets, especially in termsof government efforts to stabilize prices were suggested by 92% ofsmallholder respondents as a way to promote diversification incropping. 22% of smallholder respondents actually had receivedassistance in locating appropriate markets for non-rice products,mainly through NGOs like CEDAC or PUAC, which functioned asintermediaries between quality-conscious urban markets andfarmers.

The formation of farmers associationsAccording to some interviewees, the formation of farmer associationscould improve collective bargaining power to achieve discountedinput and farm gate sale prices, as well as rationalising inputpurchases. Potentially, it could also circumvent the need formiddlemen that swallow a substantial part of potential profit. VariousNGOs are actually working on promoting the set up of farmerassociations and cooperatives around the country.

Credits and financial assistance13% of the interviewed farmers advocated the higher availability ofrural credits to buy seeds or necessary equipment as a key incentive.


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appropriate fertility management options, as well as handing out seed or plantingmaterial to farmers that subscribe to their organic cultivation conditions.

CARDI and the Directorate General of Agriculture under MAFF, too, trial variouscrops and hand-out appropriate seed, etc., as do the French-CIRAD spearheadedProject for Diversification of Agriculture in Cambodia (PDAC), which is trialling andextending various upland crops and cover crop cultivation techniques centred onzero-tillage in Kampong Cham, Pailin and Battambang Provinces. Similar initiativesare launched by the French NGO PUAC based just outside Phnom Penh, theenvironmentally-focussed NGOs GERES, CARE, Srei Khmer, the Apsara Authoritywith its trial fields close to Siem Reap, the East-West Seed Company, which alsoadvertises many non-rice crops, and many more NGOs and GOs.

The acceptance of farmers to partly substitute rice with other crops

In general, 43% or 22% of farmer respondents said that they could imagine replacingrice with beans or vegetables, respectively. The necessary conditions to catalyse an

increased share of these crops to be grown by farmers are similar to the suggestionsthat farmers put forward for general crop diversification as pointed out above, namelysubsidised or improved seeds and tool availability for beans and vegetables,improved markets with more stable prices for such crops, more demonstrations andtraining in methods and techniques for growing non-rice crops, more irrigation andincreased support with irrigation maintenance, and easier access to rural credits tobuy seed or necessary equipment.


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Projects to support the diversification of Cambodian agriculture

As alluded above, there are many NGOs, GOs, and International Organisations (IO)that are devoted to trialling various non-rice alternatives throughout Cambodia. Inaddition, these organisations also intend to a certain degree to extend advice on howto cultivate crops, as well as to distribute seeds, planting material or other inputs tofarmers.

Indeed, among our farmer sample population, 54% had received training from MAFFor NGOs in non-rice crop cultivation. Being asked about their satisfaction, 83% stated

that more training would be better.42% of farmers had actually received seeds from CEDAC, CARDI, collaborativeresearch projects or NGOs.

Some NGOs and IOs also devote effort to catalysing the formation of farmercooperatives and associations. This is the case with the German Genossenschafts-und Raiffeisenverband or the national NGO Buddhism for Development.

Others help farmers in finding and accessing non-rice markets, as is the case withproject and initiatives by CEDAC, PUAC, or the Greenbelt Project in Siem ReapProvince, spearheaded by the German Development Cooperation, for example.

Indeed, 22% of smallholder respondents actually had received assistance in locatingappropriate markets for non-rice products.


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In addition, the project enabled RUA to acquire important material for theircontinuous research on the topic, notably seeds and grains, chemical fertilizer,covering material and drip irrigation material to be used in the trial fields. Trial fieldresearch is primarily intended to go deeper into the question what crops may be mostappropriate to substitute rice and to specifically test the growing of plants mentionedand suggested during the interviews.

As a second purpose, the project was intended to contribute to the reduction ofpoverty in Cambodia. This purpose was mainly linked to two considerations: first, in

Cambodia, farmers not only present the biggest socio-professional group but also theone with the highest poverty rate. 90% of Cambodias poor population live in ruralareas. They largely depend on rice cultivation and production. Second, monocultureis likely to lead to poverty as it makes harvest and hence the farmers incomeconsiderably vulnerable, notably to climatic risks and variations, pests and diseases,bad harvest and price fluctuations on the market.

The relevance of Cambiodiversity for poverty reduction in Cambodia has therefore

been to assess and evaluate the possibility and conditions of further agro-diversity asa way to diversify the farmers income basis (rice and non-rice crops), as well as toaddress other intertwined factors that are either generating or generated by poverty,such as food insecurity, and thereby contribute to the alleviation of poverty. Therelevance can moreover be seen in the projects efforts to give the poor in rural areasthe possibility to express their concerns and interests and to communicate thisinformation to policy and decision-makers through the recommendations and on theInformation Event in September 2009.


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(UNDP, HDR 2009). At upper secondary and tertiary education, the ratio is even byless than 50 girls for every 100 boys. (ADB, 2004). An additional factor is provided bythe circumstance that policies, notably in the field of agriculture, are still mainlygender blind and do not consider the specific needs and concerns of women. Alsotrainings and extension services are most often principally addressing men.Extension workers are almost exclusively male which is likely to complicate thecommunication with women farmers.

The main contribution of Cambiodiversity in this regards has therefore beenachieved, on the one hand, by having placed particular emphasis to the situation ofwomen in rural areas in view of pinpointing where actions and policies would be

needed. On the other hand, the project has aimed to give female farmers theopportunity to express major concerns and problems they currently encounter. Bothapproaches seem to be of particular importance in view of contributing to makingpolicies more gender-specific and responsive to particular women concerns. In thisperspective, from the beginning on, it has been of particular importance to encouragewomen to take part in the interview activities. In total, 48,33% of the interviewedfarmers were female. Moreover, during the elaboration of recommendations,

particular attention was laid on considering the positions and concerns raised bywomen. A specific set of recommendations has hence been presented for them.

A final contribution was to be made towards raising awareness on theimportance of sustainable development and the urgency of protecting and conservingbiodiversity worldwide, as well as to contribute to global agro-biodiversity.

First of all through its direct contact to and involvement of Cambodian farmers as


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Impact in view of sustainable development and poverty reduction (UNMillennium Development Goals)

In view of its orientation and expected impact for sustainable development, theproject Cambiodiversity, its activities and results can be considered as beingconnected to some of the United Nations Millennium Development Goals. Inparticular, the relevance is given for

Goal 1: ERADICATE EXTREME POVERTY & HUNGER

Goal 3: PROMOTE GENDER EQUALITY AND EMPOWER WOMEN

Goal 7: ENSURE ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY

Goal 8: DEVELOP A GLOBAL PARTNERSHIP FOR DEVELOPMENT

Goal 1: ERADICATE EXTREME POVERTY & HUNGER

The relevance of Cambiodiversity for achieving the first UN Millennium Development

Goal - to halve by 2015 the proportion of poor with an income lower than US$ 1 andsuffering from hunger - lies in particular in the fact that Cambodia is among theworlds poorest countries. With a GNI per capita of US$ 540, the country rangesbelow the average of US$ 2180 for the East Asia/ Pacific region and among the socalled Low Income Countries. 7

As has been outlined above, Cambodias poor population is mainly centred in ruralareas and mostly depends on subsistence agriculture. The project has therefore


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Goal 3: PROMOTE GENDER EQUALITY AND EMPOWER WOMEN

Cambiodiversity gave particular emphasis to the role of women, notably by havingpaid special attention to encouraging their participation in the interviews, assessingtheir interests and concerns and responding to them in the recommendations.

Given their central position in Cambodias local agriculture as well as their pivotal rolefor food security and household nutrition, the promotion of sustainable developmentand biodiversity can not be achieved without the involvement of women, theconsideration and respect of their specific situation and interests, and enhancement

of their position and role in decision-making processes. Due to still prevailingtraditional gender roles and differences in access to education, knowledge andinformation, Cambodian women are still mainly excluded from the policy andgovernance processes and have very limited impact on decision-making.

As part of the project, specific recommendations have been elaborated that respondto the concerns raised by interviewed women. These primarily focus on the need forgender-specific policies, farmer trainings and other forms of knowledge transfer that

lead to an increased empowerment of women and enhancement of their livingconditions.

Goal 7: ENSURE ENVIRONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY

Through its central focus on agro-biodiversity, Cambiodiversity had relevance forachieving the UN goal of reducing biodiversity loss by 2015. The major activities in


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project consortia8, the aim was to open new opportunities for regional andinternational networking and cooperation, in the short or in the long run.

In this perspective, the team acknowledged the fact that sustainable developmentand the conservation of biodiversity are global challenges that require a joint, notablyNorth-South approach.

3.3. The sustainability of research efforts beyond the projects lifetime

The sustainability of Cambiodiversity and its outcomes also after the end of theproject is important to ensure that the results, findings and recommendations have asignificant impact on the awareness and behaviour of farmers and stakeholders andhence contribute to promoting agricultural diversification and strengtheningbiodiversity. The following sets of activities conducted or initiated during the projectslifetime are expected to contribute towards deepening and extending the relevance ofCambiodiversitys outcomes.

Ongoing field tests

As foreseen within the project plan and budget, project partner RUA has boughtseeds to be used in the universitys test fields for research activities. The main focusof these tests is set on the question what non-rice crops would be most appropriateto supplement rice in Cambodia. The activities will hereby be based on the assessedinformation and consider on the one hand the crops identified as possible rice


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Regional and international networking

Throughout the project, particular attention has been paid to establishing and

strengthening the links between the Cambiodiversity team - in particular the RUAteam - and other researchers and research institutions in the region and other partsof the world. The exchange of information, experiences and research resultspresents a crucial approach, not only for comparing and contrasting outcomes butalso for finding synergies and paving the way towards future collaboration.

3.4. Networking and Ideas for Fellow-up Projects

During the project implementation, contacts have been established to several otherproject and/ or research institutes working on similar issues and topics. Thesecontacts have on the one side been established through the participation at theInternational Conference in China in September 2008 and the exchange with theconsortium of the EC FP6 project DIVERSEEDS. On the other side, they are the

result from intensive networking of the Austrian project partners.The following contacts have been generated in view of paving the way towardspossible follow-up projects.

LILAC

The LILAC project, funded by the German Ministry of Education and Research


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cooperation with the DIVERSEEDS consortium. The relevance of this contact liesfirst and foremost in the issue of irrigation and the teams interest in gathering andcomparing information about solutions and techniques applied in other countries.Thank to the experts from VOLCANI, further contacts have been established to anirrigation specialist. Although this contact has not yet been deeply exploited duringthe project (due to the fact that the irrigation issue is only one barrier for lacking agro-biodiversity in Cambodia among others), it may present an interesting possiblestarting point for a follow-up project.

KHON KAEN UNIVERSITY (KKU), THAILAND

Contacts have been deepened to biodiversity experts from Khon Kaen University,especially during the International Conference in China in September 2008. Togetherwith RUA, the Department of Agronomy of the Universitys Faculty of Agriculture hadalso been involved in the EC FP6 project AGROFOLIO and experts from bothuniversities therefore already knew each other which eased networking activities.Within a specific working group during the Conference, the Cambiodiversity team hadthe opportunity to discuss with the team from KKU models and solutions forintercropping and irrigation. Due to the similar climate conditions, these comparisons,as well as the issue of applicability in Cambodia were particularly interesting for bothsides and may provide the basis for further cooperation in the context of a jointresearch project.


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4. RecommendationsBased on the interviews, assessment results and inputs collected at the Information

Event in September 2009 in Phnom Penh, the following recommendations howagricultural diversification could be promoted have jointly been elaborated.

The focus has hereby been set on the following set of issues:

- The issue of irrigation as important barrier and obstacle towards the cultivationof non-rice crops.

- Factors, such as prize stability, pests and diseases, or incomplete knowledge,

that make the growing of non-rice crops carry with it a certain risk forCambodian farmers.

- The limited contact and communication between farmers and the governmentlevel.

- The neglected role of women farmers.

IMPROVE THE QUALITY AND GUARANTEE THE MAINTENANCE OFIRRIGATION SYSTEMS

Irrigation is a key issue for promoting and achieving further diversification ofCambodias agriculture. In view of the problem of lack in appropriate irrigation thatcould especially ease and foster the growing of non-rice crops during the dry season,


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systems;o communicate problems on the ground.

Also, cooperation and exchange with other (neighboring) countries could allowto learn from experiences and best practices and to encourage the bilateral,regional and international transfer of knowledge and technologies.Cooperation should especially be promoted among researchers and studentsthrough joint research and networking projects, conferences and work shopsas well as student exchange programs. The exchange with experts, notablyfrom Thailand, Vietnam and Israel during the International Conference in

China in September 2008 for instance gave the participants from RUA thepossibility to discuss the comparability and similarities of local situations andproblems, and the applicability of different solutions to increase irrigation.

REDUCE THE RISK RELATED TO GROWING NON-RICE CROPS

For many Cambodian farmers, growing non-rice crops is linked to different risks,ranging from prize and market instability, to pests and diseases, and uncertainty ongrowing techniques.

- It is therefore important to build more confidence in order to encourage cropdiversification.

- Intercropping presents by itself certain protection against pests or diseases thatonly affect specific crops and should therefore be encouraged by appropriated


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By forming associations and cooperatives, farmers can also better coordinateand influence market prices, rationalize input purchases and increase their

bargaining power which may lead to minimize risk and potential losses.

Cooperatives could allow farmers to share the cost for adequate equipmentand provide crop storage facilities. Moreover, they could coordinate trainings,as well as the exchange of know how and experiences. Also, they maypresent a possibility for communities to bundle their competences andcapabilities and thereby build more capacities.

In a similar way, also long term arrangements with purchasers can reduce therisk of growing non-rice crops. Currently, some farmers, mainly around thecapital of Phnom Penh and in the tourist areas in Siem Riep province (AngkorWat), already have agreements with hotels or restaurants for which they grownon-rice crops. Also national and international NGOs, such as CEDACincreasingly act as intermediates between the farmers and potentialpurchasers, mainly shops, hotels and restaurants. Similar models could bedeveloped also in other provinces.

Besides technical assistance, financial support is essential for encouragingand facilitating the cultivation of other crops than rice, as well as for coveringthe related risks. Microcredits or other forms of credits with low interest ratescould play here an important role in helping farmers to finance the purchase ofseeds and planting material for non-rice crops.


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Closely linked, a major barrier towards further diversification of Cambodiasagricultural sector is the lack in appropriate techniques on the farmers level, as wellin downstream processing industries on the national level. Currently, due to this lack,

most agricultural products are exported in a raw or semi-raw state to neighboringVietnam or Thailand. Hereby, not only value adding opportunities are lost, butmarkets appear less lucrative and more volatile and instable as they depend onforeign developments.

Therefore, adequate measures should focus on- enhancing the exchange between the population, notably farmers, and the

government, notably through extension workers, in view of better adaptingpolicies and other political actions to specific needs;

- providing farmers with materials and inputs to grow non-rice crops as part oftraining and extension programmes; and

- developing downstream processing industries and techniques.

The following is therefore recommended by the project team:

Cooperatives and other forms of farmers associations could act as amouthpiece for farmers and thereby ease the communication between thecommunity and government level.

Cooperatives and other forms of farmers associations could ease andcoordinate the use, management and maintenance of farming material on the


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gender-related problems:

Provide information to female farmers in a gender specific way, notably by

offering specific training courses on crop cultivation, techniques, marketconditions, credits, etc. only for women.

Offer more women adapted approaches for technology and knowledgetransfer, such as through female extension workers as these may betterunderstand and respond to specific needs of women.

Provide training courses for women on the importance of biodiversity forbalanced nutrition as women play a central role for the feeding of the family

and are therefore key for tackling malnutrition. Increasingly include women in decision-making processes on the rural level.


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5. Abstract

English versionThe project Cambiodiversity, jointly prepared by the Organisation for InternationalDialogue and Conflict Management, the BOKU and the Royal University ofAgriculture (Cambodia), focussed on the issue of biodiversity in Cambodia. It aimed,on the one hand, at analysing the current pre-eminent position of rice in Cambodianagricultural system and at assessing, on the other hand, the conditions and feasibilityof further diversification.

In Cambodia, rice is presenting the predominantly grown crop, covering 81% of thetotal agricultural area. For farmers, rice thereby presents the main income source, aswell as the major staple food. This predominance is problematic. It indeed creates ahigh economic vulnerability, problems of non-balanced and malnutrition and the riskof food insecurity for the population. It moreover presents a global threat of constantgenetic resources disappearance while generating external dependencies for non-rice crops at the national level.

In this perspective, the main purpose of the project Cambiodiversity has been toanalyse the reasons and circumstances of the current rice predominance inCambodia, and to elaborate recommendations for a sustainable diversification of theCambodian agriculture.As a major activity, the project has included a comprehensive assessment work.Notably the conduction of some 180 interviews with farmers and relevant


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Reis wird in Kambodscha auf ber 81% der nationalen Landwirtschaftsflchengepflanzt und stellt somit das Hauptanbauprodukt dar. Fr Kambodschas Bauern istReis sowohl die Haupteinnahmequelle als auch das Grundnahrungsmittel. Die starke

Fokussierung der Landwirtschaft auf Reis ist jedoch problematisch. Zum einen birgtsie das Risiko einer hohen konomischen Abhngigkeit und Vulnerabilitt, und kannzu Gesundheitsproblemen, verbunden mit einer ausgewogenen oder sogarmangelhaften Ernhrung und einer ungesicherte und unnachhaltigeLebensmittelversorgung fhren. Zum anderen gefhrdet die Vernachlssigunganderer Nutzpflanzen die Erhaltung von Biodiversitt auf nationaler, wie globalerEbene, und bringt das Land in wirtschaftliche Abhngigkeit vom Ausland.

In dieser Hinsicht hat des Projekt Cambiodiversitydarauf gezielt, die Ursachen undUmstnde der aktuellen Reisdominanz in Kambodscha zu analysieren undEmpfehlungen fr eine nachhaltige Agrardiversifizierung zu erarbeiten.Hierfr wurde eine umfassende Erhebung durchgefhrt, die sich sowohl aufInterviews als auch auf Literaturrecherchen gesttzt hat. Im Rahmen von 180Interviews mit Bauern und anderen relevanten Akteuren, Politikern und Forschern inPhnom Penh und einigen Provinzen des Landes wurden Erklrungsmuster fr die

zentrale Rolle von Reis in der kambodschanischen Landwirtschaft erhoben undHindernisse, sowie mgliche Anreize fr eine strkere Diversifizierung desAgrarsektors festgehalten. Ergnzend wurden relevante Publikationenherangezogen, um so einen umfassenden berblick ber die kambodschanischeBiodiversitt und insbesondere den Reisanbau zu erlangen.

Auf Grundlage dieser Umfragen und der Analyse der Ergebnisse wurden gemeinsamE f hl f i li h Di ifi i d k b d h i h


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6. References

Adams (1992). Agricultural extension in developing countries, Intermediate TropicalAgricultural

ADP Battambong. (2008). Final Report on Agriculture- Small enterprise 2007-2008and planed goal 2008-2009 in Battambong province.

ADP Kampong Cham. (2008). Final Report on Agriculture- Small enterprise 2007-2008 and planed goal 2008-2009 in Kampong Cham province.

ADP Kratie (2008). Final Report on Agriculture- Small enterprise 2007-2008 and

planed goal 2008-2009 in Kratie province.ADP Rattanakiri. (2008). Final Report on Agriculture- Small enterprise 2007-2008and planed goal 2008-2009 in Rattanakiri province.

ADRA (October). Seminary about Vegetable Production and Making TrafficVegetable.

Albrecht, H. (1990). Rural development series, agricultural extension.AMII(1997). Report of Agricultural Marketing in Cambodia.Balassa, B. (1998). ICEG, Essays in development strategy.Cambodia-Irri Rice Production (1991). Rice ecosystem (Map-Cambodia, Map-

Kampong Cham).Carls, J.; Gate (1992). Abstracts on sustainable agriculture.Carney, D. (1998). Overseas Development Institute, Changing public and private

roles in agriculture service provision.CEDAC (1998). Cambodian centre for study and development in Agriculture.Chanhang, S. et al. (2009). Flash Report on the Cambodia Economy. Cambodia


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control of rice in Cambodia.Kornig, C.; Chan, S. (2003). Annual Report on Cambodia Economic 2003.Kornig, C.; Liv Daneth, B. (2004). Annual Report on Cambodia Economic 2004.Mac Gregor, P.W.; Bay-Petersen, J.(eds.) (1987) Improved vegetable production in

Asia.Macindoe, R.; Nou, K.; Sapl (1998). Introduction to agricultural economic farm

management and marketing in Cambodia.Maclean, M. (1998). Livestock in Cambodia Rice farming system.MAFF (1993). Bulletin of agricultural statistics and studies.MAFF (1994). Bulletin of agricultural statistics and studies.MAFF (2001). Action Program for Development of Agriculture in Cambodia 2001-

2010MAFF (2005). Agricultural Sector Strategic Development Plan, 2006-2010. Ministry

of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF), Phnom Penh.MAFF (2005). The agriculture magazine (N0 16, 2005).MAFF(2006). Report on Agricultural Marketing System and Market Potential.MAFF (2006) Strategy of improvement of agricultural marketing.MAFF (2006). Agricultural Sector Strategic Development Plan, 2006-2010.

MAFF(2006). Annual Conference on Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (29-31March 2006)MAFF (2006). Policy and Strategy of Gender in Agriculture sector.MAFF (2006). Report on Agricultural Marketing System and Market Potential.MAFF (2007). Agriculture and water strategy (2006-2010).MAFF (2008). Final Report and planning of Ministry of Agriculture 2008-2009.MAFF (2008). Final Report on Agriculture- Small enterprise 2007-2008 and planed

l 2008 2009 f Mi i t f A i lt F t d Fi h i


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Royal Government of CambodiaSan, V. (2007). Policy and strategy of agricultural development.Setara, K.; Sophal, Ch.; Achrya, S. (2002). Land, Rural living Standard and Food

Security in Cambodia. Cambodia Development Research Institute (CDRI).Setter, T. (1999). Rice improvement program.Shams, N. (et al.). (1997). A review of vegetable production in Cambodia.Shams, N.; Hong, T. Cambodias Rice field ecosystem biodiversity resources and

benefits, GtZ, GmbHSiem Reap Provincial Department of Agriculture. Adra Cambodia (2005).

Workshop report on Vegetable Production and Market Chain in Siem Reapprovince.

Sok Harch, S. (2002). Annual Report on Cambodia Economic 2002, 2002.Sophal, Ch. (2008). Impact High Food in Cambodia. Cambodia Development

Research Institute (CDRI).Sophal, Ch. et al. (2009). Annual Development Review 2008-2009. Cambodia.

Development Research Institute (CDRI).Talukder, A.; Keller, H. (2003). International Cambodia, Home gardening in

Cambodia, complete manual for vegetable and fruit production.

Trikner, V. (1996). Rice Marketing policy in Cambodia.Trikner, V. (1996). Food security in Cambodia- a preliminary assessment. UNRISED.Vannak Ch. (2006) The Study on Agricultural Extension Education Methodology in

District Kampong Chhnang Province, Thesis.World Bank (2008). World development report 2008. Agriculture for Development.World Food Programme (WFP) (2009), Food Security Atlas for Cambodia.

http://www.foodsecurityatlas.org/khm/countryY S (1997) S t i bl i lt t fil C b di CEDAC GRET


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7. ANNEX:

Documen ts i n the Annex : Interview Guidelines and Questionnaires Project Outline (disseminated during Information Event, Phnom Penh) List of participants, International Conference, Kunming, China Project poster (produced by KEF) Roundtable Invitation (produced by KEF)


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PROJECT CAMBIODIVERSITY

GUIDELINE FOR THE INTERVIEWS (version 23-07-2008)

Scheduled Start: August or September 2008

1 GUIDELINES FOR THE CONDUCTION OF INTERVIEWS

2 QUESTIONNAIRE WITH SUGGESTED QUESTIONS

1 GUIDELINES FOR THE CONDUCTION OF INTERVIEWSThe Project in General:The project Cambiodiversity is intended to deal with the issue of biodiversity in Cambodia. It

aims on the one hand at analysing the current predominance of rice in the Cambodian

agriculture sector and identifying the major reasons for this concentration. On the other hand,

it aims at assessing the possibility and conditions for further diversification and paving an

CAMBIODIVERSITY - GUIDELINE FOR THE REVIEW7 May 2008


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knowledge and capacities in the field of agro-diversification and conservation of

biodiversity.

To achieve these outcomes, the interviews will serve to reflect the opinion, interests and

knowledge of farmers, as well as provide additional information of scientists/ researchers/

international organisations and of national policy makers. This is on the one hand to

complement and found the data and facts collected during the review and assessment

activities, and on the other hand to prepare the subsequent elaboration of recommendations.

The purpose of the interviews is

to get information on the reasons and conditions for rice cultivation in Cambodia; to collect information on perceptions, experience and attitudes of farmers concerning

the cultivation of rice;

to assemble the knowledge and information of scientific and political stakeholders; to collect information on the disposition, conditions and probability of further

diversification of Cambodias agriculture, as well as the way it could be achieved

Questions to be addressed by the interviews and answered by the collected information


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INTERVIEWED PERSONS SUGGESTED QUESTIONS C

1) FARMERS : 1. What crops do you cultivate this year (defineyear for Cambodia)? If possible, estimate how

many hectares and what percentage of cultivated

area.

a. Rice:- water rice- dry cultivationb. What major non-rice crops:

2. Which crops are grown for- own consumption- exchange / barter trade- profit ?

3. From where do you get the seeds? (e.g. market,

Acr

Apu

Asu


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5. Do you remember if in this area other cropsthan rice have been cultivated before? If yes

when and what crops? What were the main

reasons for dropping these crops? Has there been

any intensification of the cultivation of rice since

then?

6. Do you consider growing other crops(additionally to rice) as a chance or as a risk?

chance, e.g.: more market opportunities, better

rotation, less exposure to diseases or pests,

promoting soil fertility, balanced nutrition

risks: less subsidies, growing possibilities during

rainy seasons lacking experience & knowledge

Are

NB:

cultiv

then p

not.

Apo

gr



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7. Perspectives for the future: Do you expect overthe next 10 years to grow more rice, less rice or

the same amount of rice? Or what other plans for

the future? e.g. quit agriculture.

A

2) SCIENTISTS:

= approx. 10-20 persons

1. What are the main reasons for the predominance

of rice in Cambodian Agricultural Sector?

2. Are there plans/ initiatives to further diversify the

Cambodian agriculture, for instance by the

government?

WHA

- Reas

her po

- Con

officia

proble

Is it po

agricu

Y-Try to

mentione

- Give i

possibilit

address i



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4. From agricultural point of view: Would it be feasible

to substitute parts of rice cultivation by growing

other crops? What crops?

What region, provinces would be most appropriate? And

for what reasons?

3) POLICY MAKERS:

= approx. 10-20 persons1. What are the main priorities of the Cambodian

Agrarian Policy over the next years? What are the

plans and prospects for the rice cultivation?

2. Are there plans/ initiatives to further

diversification of the Cambodian agriculture? If yes,

please explain and comment.

WHAT S

- Polit

rice pr

- Con

officia

proble

Is it p

agricu

- Inf

comm

local a



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4. What is the government doing to promote

biodiversity and the protection of biodiversity in

Cambodia? (Subsidies, Conferences, Training,

Programmes, Regulations, )

5. How is the communication and exchange between

government and farmers organised? (exchange of

information, requests, questions)

th

th


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AIMS OF CAMBIODIVERSITY

Analyse the role of rice in Cambodias agricul-

ture Promote cooperation with other researchers

Elaborate recommendations how to improve

and support agro-biodiversity in Cambodia

Give farmers in Cambodia the possibility to ex-

press their interests and concerns about agricul-

tural diversication

Connect farmers, researchers and policy-makers Contribute to poverty reduction.

WHY DIVERSIFICATION?

Ensure a balanced nutrition

Ensure sustainable food supply

PROJECT PARTNERS:

IDC Vienna, Austria, Europe

BOKU Vienna, Austria, Europe

Royal University of Agriculture (RUA)

Phnom Penh, Cambodia

Funded by KEF (Commission for Deve-

lopment Studies at the OeAD-GmbH)

Duration:18 months

April 2008 October 2009


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DIVERSEEDS: Networking on conservation and use of plant genetic resources in Europe and Asia

List of participants


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List of participantsP = DIVERSEEDS project member; A = DIVERSEEDS advisory board; G = invited guestMs. Selena Ahmed (G)Kunming Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy ofSciences132 Lanhei Road, Kunming, Yunnan 650204ChinaTel: +86 871 5223318Email: [email protected]

Dr. Poramate Banterng (P)Dept. of Plant Science and Agricultural ResourcesFaculty of AgricultureKhon Kaen UniversityThailand 40002Tel: +66 4334 2949Fax: +66 4336 4636Email: [email protected]

Dr. Oz Barazani (P)Israel Plant Gene BankInstitute of Plant SciencesAgricultural Research OrganizationBet Dagan 50250IsraelTel: +972 3 9683942Fax: +972 3 9683895Email: [email protected]

Mr. Chuong Sophal (G)The Royal University of AgricultureCambodiaTel: +855 11 918 901

Dr. Rivka Hadas (P)Israel Plant Gene BankARO, Volcani CentrePOB 6 Bet-Dagan 50250IsraelTel: +972 3 9683896Fax: +972 3 9683895Email: [email protected]

Ms. Veronika Hager (P)BOKU University of Natural Resources andApplied Life SciencesInstitute of Agronomy and Plant BreedingGentzgasse 150/3/6, A-1180, ViennaAustriaTel: +43 650 8636560Email: [email protected]

Prof. Karl Hammer (P)Kassel UniversitySteinstr. 19, D 37213 WitzenhausenGermanyTel: +49 5542 981214 or +49 5542 981231Fax: +49 5542 981230Email: [email protected]

Mr. Lyda Hok (P)Department of Plant Science and AgriculturalResources, Faculty of Agriculture, Khon KaenUniversityThailand 40002


Ms Lei Lei (P) Dr Nigel Maxted (P)


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Ms. Lei Lei (P)Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences20 Nanxincun, Xiangshan, Haidian districtBeijing 100093China

Tel: +86 10 62836653Email: [email protected]

Ms. Chun-yan Li (G)Faculty of Agronomy and Biotechnology, YunnanAgricultural UniversityHeilongtan, Kunming, Yunnan 650201ChinaEmail: [email protected]

Prof. Li Dezhu (G)Kunming Institute of Botany132 Lanhei Road, Heilongtan, KunmingYunnan 650204ChinaTel: +86 871 5223503Fax: +86 871 5216201Email: [email protected]

Dr. Yinghui Li (P)

Institute of Crop Science, Chinese Academy ofAgricultural Sciences12 Zhongguancun South Street, Haidian District,Beijing 100081ChinaTel: +86 10 62186650Fax: +86 10 62186624Email: [email protected]

Dr. Nigel Maxted (P)School of BiosciencesUniversity of BirminghamEdgbaston, Birmingham B15 2TTUnited Kingdom

Tel: +44 121 4145571Fax: +44 121 4145925Email: [email protected]

Mr. Camillo Meinhart (P)Organization for International Dialogue and ConflictManagement (IDC)Abt-Karlg. 19/21, 1180 ViennaAustriaEmail: [email protected]

Dr. Angela Meyer (P)Organisation for International Dialogue and ConflictManagement (IDC)Abt-Karl-Gasse 19/21, 1180 ViennaAustriaTel: +43 1 9900811 or +43 650 2258088Email: [email protected]

Mr. Aung Naing Oo (P)

Department of Plant Science and AgriculturalResources, Faculty of Agriculture, Khon KaenUniversityThailand 40002Tel: +66 4334 2949Fax: +66 4336 4636Email: [email protected]

Dr. Nguyen Thanh Lam (P)


Assoc Prof Dr Anan Polthanee (P) Assoc Prof Dr Vu Van Liet (G)


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Assoc. Prof. Dr. Anan Polthanee (P)Department of Plant Science and AgriculturalResources, Faculty of Agriculture, Khon KaenUniversity, Khon KaenThailand 40002


Dr. Prof. Lijuan Qiu (P)Institute of Crop Science, Chinese Academy ofAgricultural Sciences12 Zhongguancun South Street, Haidian DistrictBeijing 100081China


Ms. Chutima Ratanasatien (A)Plant Variety Protection Division, Department ofAgriculture, Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives50 Phaholyothin Road, Chatuchak, Bangkok 10900ThailandTel: +66 2 9407214

Fax: +66 2 5614665Email: [email protected]

Dr. Markus Schmidt (P)Organization for International Dialogue and ConflictManagement (IDC)Abt-Karlg. 19/21, 1180 ViennaAustriaTel: +43 660 6856623

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Vu Van Liet (G)Hanoi University of AgricultureTrauquy townlet, Gialam district, Hanoi cityVietnamTel: +84 04 8765 635

Fax: +84 04 8276 554Email: [email protected]

Prof. Yun-yue Wang (G)National Centre for Agrobiodiversity Research andDevelopment, Yunnan Agricultural UniversityKunming 650201, YunnanChinaTel/Fax: +86 871 5220389Email: [email protected]

Dr. Wei Wei (P)Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences20 Nanxincun, Xiangshan, Beijing 100093ChinaTel: +86 10 62836275Fax: +86 10 82596146Email: [email protected]

Mr. Ji-jun Xing (G)

Division of European AffairsDepartment of International CooperationMinistry of Science and Technology of ChinaNo.15B Fuxing Road, Beijing 100862ChinaTel: +86 10 58881350Email: [email protected]

Ms. Chun-yan Yang (G)


Unable to attend:


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Unable to attend:

Prof. Dr. Kang Chong (G)Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences20 Nanxincun, Xiangshan, Beijing 100093

ChinaEmail: [email protected]

Prof. Dr. Xiannin Diao (G)Academy of Agricultural Sciences of Hebei ProvinceChinaEmail: [email protected]

Dr. Jan Engels (P)Bioversity International

Via dei Tre Denari 472/a00057 Maccarese (Fiumicino), RomeItalyTel: +39 066118222Fax: +39 0661979661Email: [email protected]

Dr. Lothar Frese (A)Julius Khn-Institute (JKI)Institute for Breeding Research on Agricultural

CropsErwin-Baur-Str. 27, 06484 QuedlinburgGermanyTel: +49 3946 47701Fax: +49 3946 47255Email: [email protected]

Mr. Gregor Giersch (P)IDC, Organization for International Dialogue and

Dr. Korous Khoshbakht (P)University of KasselStein Strasse 19, Witzenhausen 37213

GermanyTel: +49 5542 982114Fax: +49 5542 982130Email: [email protected]

Prof. Dr. Fan Liu (G)National Vegetable Research Centre, BeijingChinaEmail: [email protected]

Mr. Lorenzo Maggioni (P)Bioversity International, Via dei Tre Denari 472/a00057 Maccarese (Fiumicino), RomeItalyTel: +39 066118231Fax: +39 0661979661Email: [email protected]

Prof. Valeria Negri (A)University of Perugia

Borgo XX Giugno74, 06121 PerugiaItalyTel: +39 075 5856218Fax: +39 075 5856224Email: [email protected]

Mr. Georges Papageorgiou (G)Minister Counsellor, Science and TechnologySection, Qian Kun Mansion, 6, Sanlitun Xi Liu Jie,


Dr. Eva Thrn (A) Prof. Hu-qu Zhai (A)


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Dr. Eva Thrn (A)SEEDNET CoordinatorSwedish Biodiversity CentreSwedish Uni. of Agricultural SciencesP.O. Box 54, 230 53 Alnarp

SwedenTel: +46 40 415587Fax: +46 40 460845Email: [email protected]

Lambert Visser (A)Centre for Genetic Resources, the Netherlands(CGN)Wageningen University and Research CentreP.O. Box 16

6700 AA WageningenThe NetherlandsTel: +31 317 477184Fax: +31 317 418094Email: [email protected]

Prof. Jianlin Wang (G)Tibetan University (University of Xizang)Tibetan Autonomous RegionChina

Email: [email protected]

Prof. Dr. Tianyu Wang (G)Chinese Academy of Agricultural SciencesZhongguancun South StreetHaidian District, Beijing 100081ChinaEmail: [email protected]

Prof. Hu qu Zhai (A)Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences12 Zhongguancun South Street, Haidian DistrictBeijing 100081China

Email: [email protected]

Prof. Dr. Daming Zhang (G)Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences20 Nanxincun, Xiangshan, Beijing 100093ChinaEmail: [email protected]

Dr. Xing Zhi (G)Department of Science and Technology

State Forestry Administration of China, BeijingChinaEmail: [email protected]

Mr. Haifei Zhou (P)Institute of Botany, Chinese Academy of Sciences20 Nanxincun, Xiangshan, Beijing 100093ChinaTel: +86 10 62836503Email: [email protected]

Promoting Biodiversity Conservation in CambodiaPhnom Penh, Cambodia and Vienna, Austria


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Background

Over half of the worlds requirement for proteins and calo-ries are met by just three species, notably maize, wheat andrice, while a further six crops or commodities - sorghum,millet, potato, sweet potato, soybean and sugar (cane/beet)- bring the total to 75% of the global energy intake. Cropdiversification plays an increasingly important role for sus-tainable development and poverty alleviation, as it improvesthe nutritional well-being, especially of the poor, while sti-mulating increased income for farmers.Today, the diversity of the Earths plant life is under threatas never before. In Agriculture, the widespread adoption ofa few improved varieties has narrowed the genetic base ofimportant food crops and led to the vanishing of hundreds

of landraces. However, and as emphasized by the FAO, theguarantee of biodiversity and the conservation and sustai-nable use of plant genetic diversity are fundamental issuesto meet the worlds development needs and to promoteand support a sufficient and balanced food supply in orderto impede a further increase of global poverty.

Cambodia

> Rice = predominant crop in Cambodias agriculture> 80% rural population> Large variety of other crops> 2002 ITPGR ratified by Kingdom of Cambodia

BUT: only few policies or research on minor cropsSO: Agriculture mainly focused on rice

Outcomes

(1) Assessment of Cambodias biodiversity, byemphasising on the issue of the predominantposition of rice within the countrys agricul-ture, despite other yet more or less neglectedcrops. The project encourages a strong inte-gration of local and traditional knowledge, oflocal populations, producers and particularlywomen.(2) Promotion of the cooperation with other

Major challenges identified

(1) Lack of irrigation: Only 20% of cultivated fields are irrigated mainly no cultivation during the wetseason(2) Lack of education and knowledge (farmers) about non-rice crops cultivation(3) Technical support and subsidies mainly concern rice cultivation(4) Gap between political commitment towards biodiversity and the current real situation(5) Limited market opportunities for non-rice crops, fear of market instability

Fig. 2 & 3: Interview and discussion with local farmers

KEF Events 2009

Research for DevelopmentRoundtables

Commission for DevelopmentStudies at the OeAD-GmbH (KEF)

Chair: Prof. Gerhard GlatzelVisit our website:http://www.kef-online.atEmail: [email protected]

Commission for Development Studies at theOeAD-GmbH (KEF)
mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]


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Agro-biodiversity for a sustainable

development in Cambodia

SR 09Schwackhfer Haus, University of Natural Resources and Applied LifeSciences, ViennaPeter Jordan Strae 821190 Vienna

For organisational matters we kindlyask you to register for this event bysending an E-Mail to:

Ms Beatrix Summerer

E-Mail: [email protected] t

Web: http://www.kef-online.at

The Commission for Development Studieswas founded in 1981 as a follow-up to the1979 UN-Conference Science and Technol-ogy for Development in Vienna.

As a small organisation KEF aims at bridging

the gap between science and developmentby supporting a development-oriented ap-proach in research and science.

KEF members are scientists working at uni-versities and other research organisations,NGOs and international organisations as wellas political decision-makers representingfour different ministries.

KEF both carries out applied cooperative re-search projects with Austrian partners andpartners in developing countries and acts asan advisory body to the scientic community,

the private sector, to government bodies andto funding agencies with regard to scienticissues of development cooperation.

This event was kindly endorsedby:

With nancial support of:

Ministry of Science and Research

April 15th, 2009

17.30-19.30

http://www.kef-online.at

Royal University of Agriculture,Cambodia

University of Natural Resources and AppliedLife Sciences

Programme:

17.30-18.15

Openingby

Agro-biodiversity for a sustainable develop-ment in CambodiaDr. Chuong Sophal: KEF-Project 161Promoting biodiversity conservation in Cambodia (Organisation for InternationalDialogue and Conict Management (IDC) / University of Natural Resources andApplied Life Sciences Vienna / Royal University of Agriculture, Phnom Penh)
mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]:[email protected]


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Prof. Dr. Gerhard Glatzel,

Department of Forest- and Soil Sciences,University of Natural Resources andApplied Life Sciences, Vienna

prOjectpresentatiOnby

Dr. Chuong Sophal,,

Royal University of Agriculture, Cambodia

Promoting biodiversity conservationin Cambodia (Phnom Penh/Cambodia,Vienna/Austria)

18.15-19.30

rOundtablediscussiOnwith...

Dr. Angela Meyer,,

Board Director, Organisation forInternational Dialogue and ConfictManagement

Prof. Dr. Rainer Haas,

Department of Economics and SocialSciences, University of Natural Resourcesand Applied Life Sciences, Vienna

Prof. Dr. Ralph Gretzmacher,

Department of Forest- and Soil Sciences,University of Natural Resources andApplied Life Sciences, Vienna

MOderatedby

Prof. Dr. Gerhard Glatzel

and unsustainable food supply due to external de-

pendencies and the global threat of constant ge-

netic resources.

The project Cambiodiversity is intended, on the one

hand, to analyse the current pre-eminent position

of rice in Cambodian agricultural system and to as-

sess, on the other hand, the probability and condi-

tions for a further diversication.

The aims of the project are:

Assessment of Cambodias biodiversity, by em-

phasising on the issue of the predominant position

of rice within the countrys agriculture.

Promotion of the cooperation with other research -

ers and the establishment of North-South and

South-South networks.

Elaboration of recommendations aiming at improv-ing and supporting Cambodias agro-biodiversity.

Giving local farmers, as well as more specically

women, more possibilities to ex

final report activities for camb

Documents