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David Ader - University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture

Sustainable Intensification and the social dynamics of food security in Cambodia

UNICAM ConferenceSeptember 6-7, 2018

Intersecting Challenges

Agriculture will need to increase production by between 70-100% to meet rising need by 2050 (FAO, 2009)

Intersecting Challenges

• The world’s middle class is also expected to double over the same period

• Higher purchasing power = higher consumption & greater demand for processed food, dairy, meat, fish

Rice Basin of South East Asia

• >60% pop rural• High dependency on

Agriculture~50% labor involved in ag

• High rates of childhood stunting – %30 under five

• Zone of Influence: Rice-based smallholder agriculture is the primary farming systemo Rain-fed lowland riceo Animal production (cattle, buffalo, pigs, chickens, ducks, frogs and fish)o Other activities such as vegetable production, palm sugar production and wild food

collection

• High Dependency on Agricultureo >60% rural o ~50% households are involved in agriculture

SMALLHOLDER SYSTEMS

• Systems provide tradeoffs and synergieso risk-reduction, o provision of dietary diversity, o opportunities for income diversification and generation

from high value market products, o human and environmental resource-use efficiency

• Challengeso inadequate access to resources (which is often unequal

between genders),o access to small land holdings, o low income (and lack of diverse livelihood strategy

options for income generation) o food and nutrition insecurity

Sustainable Intensification

“…increase food production from existing farmland in ways that place far less pressure on the environment and that do not undermine our capacity to continue producing food in the future.” (Garnett etal 2013, Pretty 1997)

Sustainable Intensification

• Review by Himmelstein etal 2016, characterized as “whole system”, “participatory”, “agro ecological”

• Since whole system approach, inclusion of gender – Women farmers at disadvantage

• Including malnourishment and enhanced nutrition

Himmelstein, J., Ares, A., & van Houweling, E. (2016). Sustainable Intensification: A multifaceted, systemic approach to international development. Journal of the science of food and agriculture.

Hot Dry

Early Wet

Main Wet

Cool Dry

Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan

Kang Kong, Bitter Gourd, Pumpkin, Leafy Amaranth, Chinese kale, Choi Sum, Pak choy

Current household garden implemented by World Vegetable Center in Cambodia 2015-2018

Current model – approximately 36 m2 (Nutrition for a family)

0100200300400

25

30

35

40

February March April May June July August September October November December January

Rainfall Max T

Cels

ius

Hous

ehol

d ga

rden

Pere

nnia

l gar

den Malabar spinach, Papaya, Sweet potato, Ginger, Tumeric, Banana, Ivy Gourd, Chili, Eggplant, Spiny Corinader,

Leucaena, Moringa, indigenous vegetables and herbs……plus many more which incorporate livestock feed options

(Spatial, species and temporal diversity - mimicking natural ecosystems, complete ground cover)

Improved Climate Smart Model

Feed Gap (Hot dry) Feed Gap (Wet)

Data• Household Survey

– 3 provinces, 394 households

• Key informants: 7 (policy makers, village leaders, researchers)• Focus Groups: 8 (farmers groups)

Number of plant and animal species produced as reported by Cambodian households

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15

Freq

uenc

y of

resp

onse

s

Number of species

Male Female

Barriers to increased vegetable market accessCategory Percent of producers

reporting barrier

Low price (low profit potential) 80

Vegetable quality 20

Lack of transport 13

No time to produce or market 12

Struggles with continuous supply 7

Location (distance from market) 3

Other 6

N = 394 households

Food security status of smallholders in three rural provinces

LIVESTOCK

• Majority of Households own livestock• Cattle and Buffalo

o Important source of wealth accumulationo Restricted to forage grazing on rice stubble o Fodder of native grasses collected at roadsides or in paddieso Often children take cattle to graze

LIVESTOCK

• Previous research suggests cattle are major contributor to household income, and low variable costs to raising cattle.

• Sale of cattle sporadic, when cash is needed.

• Increased focus on cattle production regionally.

• Transition from keepers to producers.Ashley, K., Harrison, H., Chan, P. H., Sothoeun, S., Young, J. R., Windsor, P. A., & Bush, R. D. (2018). Livestock and livelihoods of smallholder cattle-owning households in Cambodia: the contribution of on-farm and off-farm activities to income and food security. Tropical Animal Health and Production, 1-15.

Jiao, X., Pouliot, M., & Walelign, S. Z. (2017). Livelihood strategies and dynamics in rural Cambodia. World Development, 97, 266-278.

GOAL OF PROJECT

• Examine the production of tree species as living fences for added nutrition and crop protection for Cambodian smallholder livestock systemso Our project aligns with USAID/Cambodia’s goals of reducing poverty and reducing the

prevalence of child stuntingo Evaluating nutritious tree species that have potential for improving the nutritional

outcomes of humans and livestocko Aligns with the Agriculture Sector Strategic Development Plan of the Cambodian

government (developed by MAFF), supporting all four basic pillars of the plan (RGC, 2015:28)

TREE SPECIES FOR LIVING FENCES

• In Cambodia main benefits are twofold:

1) the provision of perennial livestock feed sources2) the protection of land from roaming livestock

CESAIN TECHNOLOGY PARKDemonstration plot in Phnom Penh

• Employ students from UBB to help with the project

HOUSEHOLD SURVEYTable of Descriptives

%Farmers have a l iving fence around house 85.7

Reason for having a fenceProtection from cattle 76.2Food and sel l ing 49.2

Why don’t people grow on paddy in the dry season?Cattle 37.5Time or Labor 36.0Water 15.0

What do you think genera l ly of l iving fencing around paddies?Bad 22.2Good 77.8

What are the genera l disadvantages? Shade that affects my neighbors yield 60.3Access to walkways for people and tractors 15.9

Interested in planting a fence around paddy? No 50.8Yes 49.2

Why not?Socia l i s sues of access (walkways shared by neighbors ) 44.7No time or labor 26.3Far from home, tough to care for 23.7

Sheet1

Table of Descriptives

%

Farmers have a living fence around house85.7

Reason for having a fence

Protection from cattle76.2

Food and selling49.2

Why don’t people grow on paddy in the dry season?

Cattle37.5

Time or Labor36.0

Water15.0

What do you think generally of living fencing around paddies?

Bad22.2

Good77.8

What are the general disadvantages?

Shade that affects my neighbors yield60.3

Access to walkways for people and tractors15.9

Interested in planting a fence around paddy?

No50.8

Yes49.2

Why not?

Social issues of access (walkways shared by neighbors)44.7

No time or labor26.3

Far from home, tough to care for23.7

HOUSEHOLD SURVEYTable of Descriptives

%Farmers have a l iving fence around house 85.7

Reason for having a fenceProtection from cattle 76.2Food and sel l ing 49.2

Why don’t people grow on paddy in the dry season?Cattle 37.5Time or Labor 36.0Water 15.0

What do you think genera l ly of l iving fencing around paddies?Bad 22.2Good 77.8

What are the genera l disadvantages? Shade that affects my neighbors yield 60.3Access to walkways for people and tractors 15.9

Interested in planting a fence around paddy? No 50.8Yes 49.2

Why not?Socia l i s sues of access (walkways shared by neighbors ) 44.7No time or labor 26.3Far from home, tough to care for 23.7

Unexpected issues include the perception that fencing will create shade and restrict access.

Farmers reported that this will call social issues with the neighbors who share walkways.

Sheet1

Table of Descriptives

%

Farmers have a living fence around house85.7

Reason for having a fence

Protection from cattle76.2

Food and selling49.2

Why don’t people grow on paddy in the dry season?

Cattle37.5

Time or Labor36.0

Water15.0

What do you think generally of living fencing around paddies?

Bad22.2

Good77.8

What are the general disadvantages?

Shade that affects my neighbors yield60.3

Access to walkways for people and tractors15.9

Interested in planting a fence around paddy?

No50.8

Yes49.2

Why not?

Social issues of access (walkways shared by neighbors)44.7

No time or labor26.3

Far from home, tough to care for23.7

Cambodian Context• Over half of Cambodian’s are under the age of 25 and only 20 percent

live in urban areas. • Rural population is migrating to urban areas

Youth-Community Development Nexus

What are the characteristics that are associated with rural youth aspirations?

Are they abandoning their village?

• McLaughlin etal 2009. Rural Youth Residential Preferences: Understanding the Youth Development-Community Development Nexus. Journal of Community Development.

• Philip F. Kelly (2011) MIGRATION, AGRARIAN TRANSITION, AND RURAL CHANGE IN SOUTHEAST ASIA, Critical Asian Studies, 43:4, 479-506

Out Migration

• Problems in rural Cambodia help to push the population out of their villages of origin.

• People who have received high school education find it difficult to effectively use their skills and knowledge in agrarian environments.

Peou, C. (2016). Negotiating rural-urban transformation and life course fluidity: Rural young people and urban sojourn in contemporary Cambodia.Journal of Rural Studies, 44, 177-186.

Rural to Urban Migration

• three-quarters of both women and men migrants identified employment as one of the main reasons why they migrated.

Heinonen, U. (2006). Environmental impact on migration in Cambodia: Water-related migration from the Tonle Sap Lake region. Water Resources Development, 22(3), 449-462.

• Migration is associated with status, modernity, filial responsibility and idealized versions of both masculinity and femininity (young migrant women are described as more beautiful and desirable because they work indoors or in the shade and thus attain a lighter skin tone).

Brickell, K. (2011). “We don’t forget the old rice pot when we get the new one”: Discourses on Ideals and Practices of Women in Contemporary Cambodia. Signs, 36(2), 437-462.

• “With the frequency of environmental distress, the distance from markets, the low profit typically attained through animal husbandry and agriculture, and the risk perceived to be involved in rice intensification or crop diversification, most people saw village-based livelihood strategies as impossible or unwise."

Bylander, M. (2014). Borrowing across borders: Migration and microcredit in rural Cambodia. Development and Change, 45(2), 284-307.

Mixed Methods-Sequential Qualitative part first used to inform quantitative• Key informants: 10 (6 male, 4 female) policy makers, village leaders, researchers• Focus Groups: 10 (university students; 4 groups all Female; 1 all male, 5 mixed)

We explore rural identities, transitioning to urban life, and how their family and social relations have changed.

How rural youth view Phnom Penh as a place to live and their aspirations for returningto the village.

Results: Rural Identity • Discrimination: based on dress, accents, “not modern”• Family supportive of studying but not always returning• Poor quality of life in city, but they have money and opportunities

Quantitative: Survey• 250 students who

migrated to study in Phnom Penh, but are from the provinces

Descriptive Statistics Mean or PercentDemographics

Female 67.9Age 20.3Year of study 60.8

EducationHumanities and Social Science 48.8Agricultural Sciences 33.2Other majors 18.0

Social Economic Parents University 9.1Family Supportive 91.6Family familiar with university 35.2Internet at home in vil lage 61.4Family Farms rice 76.3

Aspirations to returnYes definitely 31.7

Residential AspirationsRural area 7.7

Perceptions of IdentityStudent 86.7Migrant 39.1Nek Sre 48.8

Sheet1

Descriptive Statistics

Mean or Percent

Demographics

Female67.9

Age20.3

Year of study60.8

Education

Humanities and Social Science48.8

Agricultural Sciences33.2

Other majors18.0

Social Economic

Parents University9.1

Family Supportive91.6

Family familiar with university35.2

Internet at home in village61.4

Family Farms rice76.3

Aspirations to return

Yes definitely31.7

Residential Aspirations

Rural area7.7

Perceptions of Identity

Student86.7

Migrant39.1

Nek Sre48.8

Results

010203040506070first year

study ag

under a year

Neak Sre Neg

PP BTExpect

participate in rice

Residential Aspiration

In city Other

0102030405060708090

town

rural

internet

rice farmreturn

study ag

more than one year

Factors influencing perceptions of Neak Sre

Negative 18.8 Neither 55.6 Positive 25.6

Multivariate Results: AspirationsFactors relating to the likelihood of returning to countryside: residential aspirations

Dep Model 1 Model 2 Model 3 Model 4 Model 5Aspiration city

Ag Education .473** .526* .464* .504* .408*Demographics

Age 1.01 0.916 0.924 0.934Female 1.67 1.44 1.48 1.48

Parents Uni 1.25 1.29 1.18Freshman at Uni .490* .502* .516*

Rural area 0.938 0.972Family Rice 0.803 0.798

Neak Sre Neg 1.55N=250

ResultsFactors relating to the likelihood of returning to countryside: residential aspirations

Dep Model 1 Model 2 Model 3 Model 4 Model 5Will return

Ag Education 2.29** 2.39** 2.58** 2.60** 2.74**Demographics

Age 1.11 1.19 1.17 1.16Female 1.48 1.65 1.63 1.64

Parents Uni 0.697 0.652 0.713Freshman at Uni 1.73 1.7 1.64

Rural area 1.43 1.35Family Rice 0.725 0.736

Neak Sre Neg 0.596

PresenterPresentation NotesCement is used for development of urban areas.

Future of Global Agriculture• The goal of the agriculture sector is no longer simply to

maximize productivity, but to optimize it across a far more complex landscape of production, rural development, environmental and social justice outcomes (Godfray, et al., 2010; Sachs et al., 2010)

www.feedthefuture.gov

PresenterPresentation NotesTo insert your implementing partner institutional logo, go to View >> Slide Master, and replace the gray box with your logo, placing it to the right of the USAID logo at the bottom. No text or partner logos can be placed within the upper blue banner.

Slide Number 1Slide Number 2Intersecting ChallengesIntersecting ChallengesSlide Number 5Rice Basin of South East AsiaSlide Number 7Smallholder SystemsSustainable IntensificationSustainable IntensificationSlide Number 11DataNumber of plant and animal species produced as reported by Cambodian householdsBarriers to increased vegetable market accessFood security status of smallholders in three rural provincesLivestockLivestockGoal of ProjectTree species for living fencesSlide Number 20CESAIn Technology parkSlide Number 22Household SurveyHousehold SurveyCambodian ContextYouth-Community Development NexusOut MigrationRural to Urban MigrationSlide Number 29Slide Number 30Mixed Methods-Sequential Results: Rural Identity Quantitative: SurveyResultsMultivariate Results: AspirationsResultsSlide Number 37Slide Number 38Slide Number 39Slide Number 40Slide Number 41Slide Number 42Slide Number 43Slide Number 44Slide Number 45Slide Number 46Slide Number 47Slide Number 48Slide Number 49Slide Number 50 Future of Global AgricultureSlide Number 52