PROMOTING BIODIVERSITY CONSERVATION IN CAMBODIA. Cambiodiversity FINAL REPORT

Transcription

1 Organisation for International Dialogue KEF Project 161 and Conflict Management (IDC) Dr. Angela Meyer Kaiserstrasse 50/ Vienna/ Austria PROMOTING BIODIVERSITY CONSERVATION IN CAMBODIA Cambiodiversity FINAL REPORT October 2009 Project financed by the Commission for Development Studies (KEF) at the OeAD-GmbH Dr. Angela Meyer (IDC, Vienna), Project Coordinator DI Veronika Hager (BOKU, Vienna) Dean Sophal Chuong (Royal University of Agriculture (RUA, Phnom Penh)

2 Final Report This Final Report of the Project Cambiodiversity (161) has been compiled in October and November 2009 by the Cambiodiversity Consortium, represented by: Dr. Angela Meyer (Project Coordinator), Organisation for International Dialogue and Conflict Management (IDC) DI Veronika Hager, University of Natural Resources and Applied Life Sciences (BOKU) Dean Sophal Chuong, Royal University of Agriculture (RUA) All pictures by Angela Meyer, Veronika Hager and Sophal Chuong 2

3 TABLE OF CONTENT 3

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5 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 coopération Internationale en Recherche Agronomique pour le Développement/ French Agricultural Research Centre for International Development DED German Development Service FAO Food and Agriculture Organisation GERES Groupe Energies Renouvelables, Environnement et Solidarités GRET Groupe de recherche et d échanges technologiques/ Research and Technological Exchange Group MAFF Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries PDAC Project for Diversification of Agriculture in Cambodia PUAC Peri-Urban Agriculture Centre CBD United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity ITPGR International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources UNEP - GEF United Nations Development Programme - Global Environment Facility UN MDG United Nations Millennium Goal(s) WFP World Food Programme 5

6 1. Introduction and Overview of the Project Background of the project Rice presents the predominant crop in Cambodia. Currently, about 81% of agricultural land are devoted to rice cultivation (MAFF, 2009). As a result, every increase in total agricultural output closely mirrors increases in rice production. Cambodia s agricultural sector is dominated by subsistence or semi-subsistence smallholdings. Rice not only presents a major income source but is also the main basis for the population s nutrition. More than 75% of the average daily caloric intake are covered by rice and even the Khmer word for rice is synonymous for food in general. Since Cambodia has become self sufficient in rice at a national level in 1999, projects and programmes aiming at diversifying Cambodian agriculture have gradually gained momentum. In 1995, the Kingdom ratified the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) and is since then increasingly showing conviction to promoting sustainable development. In 2002, it signed the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources (ITPGR), nurtured by the FAO and aiming at guaranteeing food security through the conservation, exchange and sustainable use of the world's plant genetic resources for food and agriculture. However, non-rice crops are still not sufficiently taken into account by national policies or subject to researches, as these primarily continue to be focussed on ricebased farming systems. As a consequence, the agricultural sector is still dominated by rice, and rice production has more or less increased over the last 20 years (FAOSTAT). The cultivation of non-rice crops, in return, such as mungbeans, soybeans, taro or groundnuts, is rather underdeveloped and only serves for home consumption or local markets. The predominance of rice and the neglect of other crops is critical for several reasons. One major problem is the non-balanced nutrition of the population. Cambodia, indeed, has one of the highest malnutrition rates in South-East Asia. According to the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), the average diet of Cambodians consists of 78% starchy food, mainly rice and rice porridge with limited nutritional value. Especially children suffer from high levels of malnutrition and insufficient intake of vitamins. The predominance of rice in Cambodia s diet is moreover likely to lead to deficiencies in protein as well as in micronutrients, such as iron and calcium. (WFP, 2009) In addition, due to the dependence on rice as major source, the farmers income in some provinces has been negatively affected, during the last years, by unstable rainfall patterns and repeated drought periods causing important production shortfalls. The national economic concentration on rice also leads to a non-secure and unsustainable food supply. Despite Cambodia s self sufficiency in rice, the country heavily depends on its neighbours for food other than rice. Also extensive monocropping over a long period of time is likely to deplete the soil of certain essential nutrients. 6

7 Finally, on the global level, the predominance of rice in Cambodia s agriculture rises the risk of limited crop-diversity and the disappearance of plant genetic resources. In this perspective, a further diversification of Cambodia s agriculture seems key for promoting the population s balanced nutrition and well-being, fostering the country s sustainable development and economic progress as well as contributing to global biodiversity. However, the feasibility of a further diversification of Cambodia s agricultural sector is not only linked to technical, agronomic and climate related circumstances. It must also take into consideration the conditions, concerns and expectations of the people concerned, notably the farmers. The societal dimension is therefore of central importance, 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), Cambiodiversity s main aim has been to make a substantial contribution to exploring and paving the way towards a further diversification of the Cambodian agricultural sector. In this perspective, the project has aimed to assess and analyse the major multiple reasons and circumstances of the current predominance of rice and to investigate the conditions and especially the technical, economic and social realisability of a stronger and sustainable diversification of Cambodia s agriculture. Especially, through its focus on the social acceptance and farmers expectations and concerns, Cambiodiversity has intended to go a step further than many studies and projects on agricultural diversification that emphasize the agro-climatic context and to pay particular attention to the socio-economic context of the diversification issue. 1 Approach To achieve this aim, the project team has adopted a threefold approach: Assessment activities carried out in the first part of the project were intended to provide a detailed picture of Cambodia s biodiversity and especially the role played by rice. On the one hand, the questions - why rice is playing such a predominant role in Cambodia s agriculture, what is the main context and reasons for this predominance and under what conditions further diversification of the agricultural sector could be possible - guided the review of relevant publications and literature. On the other hand, these issues were discussed with farmers and other relevant stakeholders in a series of interviews in view of better assessing these actors know how, positions and expectations. The idea behind these activities was to get a clearer understanding of the central role played by rice and to discuss ways and possibilities of agro-diversification with farmers, researchers and policy makers directly concerned by these issues. Especially the direct involvement of farmers, of whom in 7

8 total 180 have been interviewed in several provinces of the country, was intended to foster 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-governmental organisations, in view of complementing and comparing the farmers answers with these groups statements and points of view. A second approach has been to promote the cooperation of the Cambodian project partner, RUA, with other researchers and to strengthen North-South and South-South contacts and networks. The focus here has particularly been set on contacts to international researchers and institutions working on the issue of biodiversity, as well as to experts from other Asian countries where different models for agro-diversification exist. The main activity here has been the joint participation of the project team at the International conference held by the EC FP6 project Diverseeds in Kunming, China, in September This has allowed to meet and strengthen the contacts with this project consortium composed of European, Israeli, Chinese and South-East-Asian experts in agricultural biodiversity and plant genetic resource preservation, and to present the Cambiodiversity project in view of stimulating a discussion on best practices and their applicability on the Cambodian case, as well as on lessons learned and experiences in other, including neighbouring countries. As a third approach towards making a contribution to promoting stronger agricultural biodiversity in Cambodia, the team has jointly elaborated a set of recommendations, reflecting the results and outcomes from the previous project activities, mainly the series of interviews with farmers and other stakeholders. The idea behind was to provide especially stakeholders and policy makers with guidelines and suggestions that consider the position, interests and concerns of farmers and hereby contribute towards making policies more responsive to both, biodiversity concerns and local needs. Purposes The project had four major purposes, closely aligned with the UN Millennium Goals. A first purpose has been to support the Cambodian researchers from the Royal University of Agriculture (RUA) to study and analyse the context of current rice predominance and assess the context and circumstances of agro-diversification. Apart from contributing to advancing their research on biodiversity in their country, a special focus has notably been set on giving in particular master students the possibility to get involved, mainly in the conduction and evaluation of stakeholder interviews, to have more practical training, and to gain more insight in the conditions in the farmer villages. The EC FP6 project Diverseeds (Networking on conservation and use of plant genetic resources in Europe and Asia) has been implemented from 12/ 2006 until 11/ 2008, under the coordination of IDC. The project s aim was to encourage international dialogue and co-operation to find ways of safeguarding and preserving plant genetic resources. The Diverseeds consortium has encompassed four Asian partners - the Institute of Botany of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences in China, the Khon Kaen University in Thailand and the Hanoi Agricultural University in Vietnam -, four European institutions - IDC (Austria), the BOKU (Austria), the University of Kassel (Germany) and the Birmingham University (United Kingdom), as well as the international research organization Bioversity-IPGRI and the Volcani Institute (Israel). 8

9 As second purpose, the project was intended to make a contribution to the reduction of poverty in Cambodia. The project hereby emphasised the relevance of crop diversity and agro-biodiversity for promoting and achieving major factors relevant for poverty alleviation, such as a balanced nutrition, food security, better diversified market conditions, reduced external dependencies and vulnerability for economic crises and shortages. Closely linked, the team also intended to pay particular attention to relevant gender aspects and promote the role of women. This intention is primarily based on the acknowledgement that, for long, biodiversity and sustainable development issues have been addressed in gender neutral way, assuming that constraints impact men and women in similar ways. This has led in most cases to gender blind policies and projects that have not been adapted to the reality and have thereby failed to address the specific needs and concerns of both gender groups. A third purpose of Cambiodiversity has therefore been to emphasize, by focusing on the specific situation in Cambodia - and mainly in Cambodia s countryside -, the central role played by women for achieving sustainable development and efficient biodiversity conservation. Women indeed are significantly involved in local farming and crop production, and mainly responsible for the preparation of food and the families nutrition. Improving their knowledge and understanding, especially as regards the importance of balanced food choice and diets, would increase their awareness on the necessity of diversified farming and crop-diversity. At the same time, women are most often excluded from major decision making and policy processes, as they lack the ability and possibilities to access appropriate channels. One of the project s intentions has therefore been to particularly involve women in the assessment activities and to give them the possibility to express their needs, concerns and expectations in the interviews. A fourth purpose has finally been to raise the awareness on the global importance and urgency of protecting and conserving the world s biodiversity and to contribute to the promotion of global sustainable development. Project Team The project team has consisted of two Austrian and one Cambodian institutions. The basis for this very well working cooperation had already been set in the frame of the EC FP6 project Agrofolio - Benefiting from an Improved Agricultural Portfolio in Asia. As members of this project consortium, the three partners had already worked together in identifying neglected and underutilized species (NUS) in Cambodia, as well as in a couple of other Asian countries, and in elaborating ways for their protection and conservation. This well proved collaboration, as well as the identified further research needs had encouraged the partners to renew and consolidate their collaboration. The project implementation was based on a jointly elaborated project plan and distribution of tasks according to capacities and priorities. The Austrian coordinator IDC essentially contributed to the project management and coordination. Besides administrative and management activities, IDC also guided the Detailed information on the EU FP6 project Agrofolio, as well as the project s final report presenting all major outcomes are available on the project s website 9

10 preparatory tasks for the assessment activities, notably by drafting the questionnaire for stakeholder interviews and the guidelines for the literature review, assisted the analysis of results and coordinated the meetings, the attendance of the International Conference 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 completed the assessment and the major part of the analysis activities under the cooperation and monitoring of IDC. Project partner BOKU assisted both project partners: It contributed to the management 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 established under the Austrian Law of Associations (Vereinsgesetz) since Composed of experts from different scientific and professional backgrounds, IDC has developed a strong commitment to international environmental issues, by paying particular attention to biodiversity, potential impacts of environmental challenges and transformations for sustainable social and economic development, as well as the importance and possibilities of civil society involvement towards sustainable policy making and agenda setting. Over the past years, IDC has coordinated and taken part in a total of five EC FP projects and four nationally funded research projects. Role and Task in the Project: Within Cambiodiversity, IDC has been in charge of the supervision and management of the project activities. The project coordination has been ensured by Angela Meyer who has overseen and coordinated the advancement of the project according to the project plan, ensured the communication within the consortium and with the contractor (KEF), provided the administrative management and coordinated the regular and accurate reporting of the project's results. As the coordinator, Angela Meyer has also supported the partners from RUA in the preparation and conduction of assessment activities, assisted the organisation of the project meeting in Phnom Penh in August 2008 and of the Information Event at RUA in September 2009, and guided the elaboration of recommendations. In addition, the regular exchange and networking with the international scientific community has been promoted, notably in view of possibilities for cooperation, synergies and followup projects. 10

11 Organisation for International Dialogue and Conflict Management (IDC) Kaiserstrasse 50/ Vienna, Austria Tel: 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 Institute s central goal is the development of integrated plant production methodologies that decrease the risks for environmental degradation, guarantee high productivity and good quality for further food production. In plant breeding the methodological basis and its practical applications are investigated to develop new varieties (genotypes) with an increased genetic potential towards, yield, quality and resistance. Therefore the Institute has growing interest in the sustainable use of plant genetic resources. Recent projects dealt e.g. with old traditional crop varieties, underutilized crops and plant production in tropical and subtropical regions. In the context of cooperation with developing countries several projects were carried out in cooperation with African and Asian partners. These projects are also meant for education and qualification of young scientists in developing countries. Role and Task in the Project: As project partner, BOKU has been responsible for assisting and supporting the partners at RUA in implementing the major research activities. Veronika Hager has provided advice for the conduction of interviews with farmers, the review activities and the elaboration and finalisation of the project's recommendations. Veronika Hager has moreover assisted Angela Meyer in the project management and reporting, the organisation of meetings and events and the regular dissemination of results, notably through the project website. Institute of Agronomy and Plant Breeding Gregor Mendel Strasse Vienna, Austria 11

12 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 the mission to offer quality education and training programs to students and staff in rural and agricultural fields; to conduct rural and agricultural research themes in close cooperation with local and international research institutes and industrial companies; and to create an information center for disseminating agricultural sciences and technology 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 agronomy and agricultural sciences to students through an appropriate educational curriculum; and - to extend new, relevant knowledge concerning agricultural production methods and strategies, as well as resource management and conservation, to farmers and the agricultural community at large. Role and Tasks in the project: As project partner in Cambodia, RUA has been responsible for the implementation of the project on the ground, including the carrying out of the assessment activities, the organisation of a project meeting and the Information Event and dissemination and awareness raising activities. Under the supervision of Sophal Chuong, Dean of the Faculty of Agronomy, a group of students and graduates has conducted a series of interviews with farmers, scientists, decisionmakers and other relevant stakeholders in Phnom Penh and several Cambodian provinces and undertaken intense literature review and research activities focused on the predominant position of rice in the country. In close cooperation with IDC and BOKU, RUA has processed and analysed the collected data and elaborated target group specific recommendations. Royal University of Agriculture Dongkor District Phnom Penh, Cambodia, P.O.Box: 2696 Tel:(855) / Fax:(855)

13 From left: Angela Meyer, Sophal Chuong, Veronika Hager (Sept. 2008) 13

14 2. Activities The project Cambiodiversity was structured into five work packages. Work package 1 encompassed all coordination and management activities, including the production of the mid-term and the final report. Work package 2 covered all assessment and survey activities in Cambodia in form of interviews with farmers, policy-makers and selected stakeholders, as well as the review of major relevant publications and the composition of the assessment report. 4 Work package 3 included the organization of the project meeting at Royal University of Agriculture in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, and the joint attendance of the project partners of the International Conference on Networking on conservation and use of plant genetic resources in Europe and Asia in Kunming, China. Work package 4 focused on the elaboration of recommendations and their presentation 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 regular update of a project website and the production and circulation of information material. (e.g. folder and poster) Gantt chart of the project activities, as defined in the project proposal (submitted 01/2008: NB: The International Conference was initially planned to take place in Beijing and was then organised in Kunming. 14

15 Work packages 1 and 5 run for the entire duration of the project, i.e. from April 2008 until October Work package 3 had entirely been implemented during the first reporting period (April January 2009). While work package 2 had its essential activities during this first time span too, some of its activities were finalized during the second period (January - October 2009). Work package 4 was performed during the last 6 months of the project Major activities within Work package 1 The major activities performed within work package 1 were intended to support and guarantee the coordination and administrative management of the project. They primarily consisted in monitoring, overseeing and assisting the project s advancement and guaranteeing a work flow and progress according to the initially established work plan and the set deadlines. One major task had moreover been the preparation of the midterm progress report and the here presented final report Major activities within Work package 2 Focusing on the assessment of Cambodia s agriculture, the reasons and circumstances of the predominance of rice and possible approaches for diversification, this work package covered three major activity clusters: (1) the preparation of assessment activities, (2) their conduction and (3) the final evaluation and analysis. The first part, the preparation of guidelines for the review and interview activities, had been jointly performed by the researchers from IDC, BOKU and RUA during the first months of the project. Through exchange of s, and regular face-to-face contact of the Austrian partners the team started by discussing, on the one hand, what information the literature review should allow to provide and what kind of publications should hence be consulted. On the other hand, and in a similar way, they identified major issues and topics to be addressed during the interviews and how these could best be formulated in questions. Based on these considerations, they jointly elaborated a template to be used for collecting the needed information during the literature review, as well as two sets of questionnaires - one to be used with farmers, and the other one to be used with policy-makers, researchers and other relevant stakeholders. During the project meeting in Phnom Penh, Cambodia in August 2008, the team jointly undertook a first series of pre-test interviews with farmers in the provinces of Kampong Speu and Kandal. 15

16 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 of the interviews after the ending of the rainy season (i.e. from end of September on), in order to have better accessibility conditions. The second part of work package 2, the conduction of interviews and the review of relevant documentation, has been started, as convened, from end of September/ beginning of October on. (1) Interviews Locations and number of interviews conducted A total of 240 interviews have been conducted allover Cambodia. By December 2008, interviews with representatives of farming households throughout Cambodia were completed. In total, the team from RUA interviewed 180 representatives of farming households in 12 provinces of Cambodia. In addition, 29 policy makers, mainly district-level Ministry of Agriculture workers in the provinces, and 31 researchers, scientists and staff from international and non governmental organizations have been interviewed. Whereas, 48,33% of the interviewed farmers were women, the policy-makers were all male and only one woman was among the researchers and scientists involved in these activities. Province Districts per Province Name of Districts Respondents per Province Battambang 7 Kampong Speu 3 Kampot 4 Ek Phnom; Sang Ke; Bor Vil; Thmor Kol; Mong Reussey; Battambang; Ratana Mondol Samrong Torng; Phnom Sruoch; Korng Pisey Trapeang Thom; Dang Torng; Kpg

17 Province Districts per Province Name of Districts Respondents per Province Trach; Banteay Meas Kandal 3 Saang; Mouk Kampoul; Pognealoeu 15 Kpg Cham 5 Tbong Khmum; Tam Be; Chamcar Leu; Kpg Siem; Prey Chhor 15 Kpg Kpg Chhnang; Rolea Pha Ear; 3 Chhnang Kpg Leng 15 Kpg Thom 3 Stong; Prasat Sambo; San Touk 15 Kratie 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 15 Stung Treng 2 Siem Bok; Thala Boravath 15 Total 180 of which Men: 95 Women: 85 Locations and amounts of interviews conducted with a representative of a farm household in 12 provinces of Cambodia. The 12 provinces where interviews with representatives of farming households were conducted included: - Seven lowland provinces, where rainfed rice agriculture dominates (Battambang, Kampong Chhnang, Kampong Speu, Kampong Thom, Kandal, Prey Veng and Siem Reap), - Four upland provinces, where more diversified agricultural practices are common (Kampong Cham, Kratie, Ratanakiri and Stung Treng) - and a single coastal province (Kampot). The names of each district in which households were selected for interview are given in the table below, while their approximate location within Cambodia in shown in the following map. 17

18 Approximate location of the district in the 12 provinces where interviews with representatives of farming households took place. (map by Sophal Chuong) In total, 29 policy makers have been interviewed. Additional interviews have been carried out with 31 researchers, scientists and staff from international and non governmental organizations. Methodology behind location and respondent selection and interviewing The RUA team was composed of the following researchers: Mr. Chuong Sophal, Dean of the Faculty of Agronomy; Mr. Ro Sophoan Rith, Lecturer at the Faculty of Agronomy and project assistant; Mr. Ly Tyneth, forth year B.Sc. student, Faculty of Agronomy; and Mr. Preap Madora, forth year B.Sc. student, Faculty of Agronomy. The twelve provinces were selected on the basis of agro-ecosystem (i.e. upland, lowland and coastal) in order to guarantee a fairly good representation of Cambodia as a whole. Subsequently the director of the Provincial Department of Agriculture of each selected province was contacted. The objective of the project was explained to the director, who was then asked to provide background details on the agricultural situation and history of the province, and hence to point out authorities that could facilitate interviews with farmers, as well as technical staff and policymakers that could be used for interviews. 18

19 Within the provinces, the selection of districts and then communities was done at random. In every district, four to five households per commune were asked for interview. To ensure the representativeness of the data collected, it was decided to conduct a total of 15 interviews with farmers in every province, making a total of 180 interviews for all 12 selected provinces. The conduction of interviews with policy makers and technical staff was sometimes retarded due to the often busy agendas of these stakeholders and the difficulty to fix appointments.. All interviews were conducted using the jointly elaborated questionnaire and according to the predetermined interview guideline. While few of the interviews posed any major problems, it was evident that many farmers were often reluctant to provide family information, possibly because they had negative experiences with similar types 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 the dean, Mr. Chuong Sophal, contacted the relevant libraries at the relevant ministries, academic institutions or NGO/GOs. Subsequently, documents related to crop production in Cambodia, to agricultural history, to past and recent crop production, agricultural market, agricultural policy, constraints and strategies to circumvent constraints were selected. Often, access to literature was difficult and unfortunately, not much could be borrowed. In total, 34 publications have been reviewed, of which: - 11 Scientific publications and documents; - 18 Reports by national and international institutions; - 2 Policy texts - 2 Journal Articles - 1 Project/ Conference Report The detailed results from the review have been summarized in the project s Assessment Report and form, together with the interview outcomes, the main pillar for the analysis Major activities within Work package 3 Work package 3 was organized around the two meetings and their preparation: a project meeting of the team at RUA in Phnom Penh and the joint attendance of the International Conference on plant genetic resource conservation in Kunming, China. In order to save travel costs, it has been agreed by the team to schedule the meeting at RUA in accordance with the China conference. Hence, Angela Meyer from IDC and Veronika Hager from BOKU met their partners from RUA from August 25 th to 19

20 August 31 st, and subsequently participated at the International Conference, together with Sophal Chuong from RUA. In addition, and not initially foreseen in the project plan, Chuong Sophal came to Vienna to attend the round table dicussion, which was coordinated by the Commission for Development Studies at the OeAD-GmbH (KEF) at April, 15 th Project Meeting in Cambodia, The project meeting in Cambodia encompassed a half-day meeting at the Royal University for Agriculture to discuss the implementation of the project, to evaluate already completed and schedule projected activities and to visit the university s premises. Moreover, the meeting included the preparation and carrying out of first joint series of interviews with farmers in communes around the city of Phnom Penh. Meeting at RUA, The first project meeting of the KEF funded project Cambiodiversity was held on 26 August 2008 in the Dean s office at Royal University for Agriculture. On August 26 th, Angela Meyer and Veronika Hager met with their partner from RUA, Dean Sophal Chuong. They were joined by Adrian Bolliger (adviser from the German Development Service, DED) and a group of Cambodian students involved in the implementation of Cambiodiversity at RUA. At the beginning of the meeting, Sophal Choung and his students briefly reported on the assessment and review activities underway. They explained their way of proceeding for the review and evaluation of already existing material and information relevant for the project and what progress have already been achieved in assessing the current agricultural situation in Cambodia, the predominance of rice and the feasibility of further biodiversification. Moreover, they presented some of the most important documentation and publication they were mainly consulting for collecting most relevant facts, information and knowledge. During the second part of the meeting, the project participants discussed the foreseen interview activities. Together, they went through the interview guidelines and questionnaires they had jointly prepared previously. Sophal Chuong presented the changes and modifications he considered important to make on the initial drafts. The team discussed more intensively the conduction of interviews with farmers as the first set of interviews foreseen in the project. As it has been a major concern of the project to cover as many provinces as possible, the team localised the different concerned rural areas on a map and discussed their differences, specificities and importance for the project. As a last part of the meeting, it was agreed to start a first joint set of interviews with farmers on 28 and 29 August. The participants decided to visit first a village in the commune of Kaheng in Kampong Speu Province where mainly rice is cultivated. For the second day it was planned to interview farmers in the province of Kandal, first in the commune of Krang Yov where agricultural cultivation is mainly based on vegetables, and second in Tik Vil where again mainly rice is cultivated. 20

21 Finally, Angela Meyer and Veronika Hager visited the Faculty s facilities (laboratories, auditoriums), the University s experimental fields. Veronika Hager, Angela Meyer, a student from RUA, Adrian Bolliger and Sophal Chuong (from left) in Sophal Chuong s office at RUA Students working in RUA s test fields First series of interviews with farmers, 28. and On 28 and 29 August, a first joint series of interviews had been conducted by the Cambiodiversity team with farmers in the Provinces of Kampong Speu and Kandal. In the Kampong Speu Province, the project team visited a farmer and his family. Interviews were conducted with the family members by the project involved students, according to the previously jointly elaborated guidelines and questionnaire. A more or less equitable involvement of men and women in the interview activities was respected. Afterwards, the Cambiodiversity participants visited the farmer s fields. Although this farmer mainly cultivated rice for family consumption and as major source of income, he also produced vegetables on a contractual basis for local and international NGOs. He showed the Cambiodiversity team some fields with Batavia lettuce, tomatoes and green beans cultivated for a local and a Belgian NGO that sold the crops to hotels and restaurant in Cambodian tourist areas. RUA students interviewing farmers in Kampong Speu Province. 21 Interviews with land workers in Kandal province.

22 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. A couple 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, beans and lettuce. Harvest is usually sold on local markets or transported to markets in the capital of Phnom Penh. Finally, a last series of interviews has been conducted with a farmer family in the commune of Tik Vil in the Kandal Province. In contrast to the previously visited villages in this province, farmers in this area predominantly cultivate rice. The interviewed farmer grows rice on a total surface of apprx. 1 ha. Interviewing the farmer on his rice fields (Tik Vil) Interviews with the farmer s family (Tik Vil). Concluding meeting, Following these first three sessions, the Cambiodiversity team had a final meeting to discuss the conduct, results and outcomes of the interviews, necessary amendments on the questionnaire and ways for improvement. All partners agreed that the willingness of the farmers to take part in the interviews was considerably high and certainly will allow the conduction of the scheduled number of interviews. It was moreover noted that especially women were very interested in participating and that hence gender balance can be respected. The questionnaire was adapted according to these first experiences. International Conference in Kunming, China, From 2 to 5 September, 2008, the Cambiodiversity partners, Angela Meyer, Veronika Hager and Sophal Chuong attended the International Conference organised in the Chinese city of Kunming by the consortium of the EU FP6 project Networking on conservation and use of plant genetic resources in Europe and Asia (DIVERSEEDS). The main aim of the project DIVERSEEDS, that was implemented from December 2007 until November 2008, has been to promote cooperation, networking and 22

23 (knowledge) exchange on genetic resources and their management between European 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 have closely worked together during the 2-years duration of the project in view of contributing to the establishment of a strong communication and exchange platform. As a final output of the project, the consortium elaborated a set of joint recommendations on how to improve EU-Asian cooperation in the field of plant genetic resource management. The conference in Kunming was the second and last meeting of the entire consortium before the project s ending by November For the Cambiodiversity project team, the participation at this conference has been an important possibility to meet with European and Asian experts working on different aspects and approaches of biodiversity conservation and to present and discuss the Cambiodiversity 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 and the main achievements since its start. Sophal Chuong moreover briefly outlined the current situation of Cambodia s agriculture and the problem related to the predominance of rice. The following day was used for discussion in working groups. As one of the working groups was focused on outlining ideas for fellow up projects and initiatives, as well as possible synergies and networking with other projects, the Cambiodiversity partners stressed the question what form of cooperation could be possible between the two project teams. Representatives from the Khon Kaen University in neighbouring Thailand for instance briefly reported on the comparable situation in their country and how rice fields are used during the dry season for the cultivation of other crops. A joint follow-up project might hence build on these experiences and practices, and deepen the cooperation between RUA and the Thai partner institutions. An Israeli expert made an interesting remark on irrigation methods that are currently developed for Israel s agriculture and that might also be relevant for promoting the cultivation of non-rice crops during the dry season in Cambodia. On the third day of the Conference, the participants had an excursion to the village of Dashao (Sondming County) in Yunnan province, where farmers practise traditional dry-upland farming. The agriculture is very rich and diversified in these areas, with crops ranging from barley, maize and buckwheat to favabean, raddish, potato and other vegetables. Currently, a UNEP-GEF supported project is being implemented in Dashao focusing on the relationship between genetic diversity and disease control for barley. At the end of the excursion, the participants visited the Kunming gene bank. 23

24 Angela Meyer, giving a presentation on the project Cambiodiversity. Sophal Chuong, making a presentation on Cambodia s agriculture and current challenges and concerns as major background of Cambiodiversity. The Cambiodiversity Team, in front of the Conference entrance. The Conference Participants (Angela Meyer, Sophal Chuong and Veronika Hager are standing in the first row as 4th, 6 th and 8 th from left.) Round table dicussion, On 15 April 2009, the founding agent KEF organised a roundtable at the University of Natural Resources and Applied Life Sciences (BOKU, Vienna) to discuss previous activities and preliminary outcomes and findings of Cambiodiversity. Apart from Angela Meyer and Sophal Chuong, representing the Cambiodiversity project, the panel was composed of two Austrian experts, Prof. Dr. Ralph Gretzmacher (BOKU, Institute of Agronomy and Plant Breeding, Vienna) and Prof. Dr. Rainer Haas (BOKU, Department of Economic and Social Sciences, Vienna). The roundtable was chaired by KEF Chairman Prof. Dr. Gerhard Glatzel (BOKU, Department of Forest and Soil Sciences, Vienna). 24

25 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 with two presentations given by Angela Meyer on the project itself (outline, aims, activities, expected outcomes) and by Sophal Chuong on the current situation and challenges of Cambodia's agriculture and some preliminary outcomes from the conducted interviews and assessment activities. The panel experts and the audience were then invited to ask questions and give comments. The roundtable's audience was mainly composed of Austrian and international students. Major issues raised included: - the issue of water shortage and lacking irrigation systems that currently hinder the repeated cultivation of rice fields; - the possibility of crop rotation and examples from other countries in the region that might be followed; - the role of policy makers and other stakeholders and the problem of effective implementation of agreed policies and strategies; - the problem of instable markets and the risk of insecure income as barriers for agro-diversification in Cambodia (example of Cassava that has been grown by Cambodian farmers in response to the increased demand of the previous year, largely due to the use of Cassava as biofuel to compensate the high oil prices. After the decrease of demand for Cassava and the market prices, many farmers witnessed a severe income loss and returned back to rice cultivation.) 25

26 2.4. Major activities within Work package 4 Based on the interviews, assessment results and inputs collected at the Information Event in September 2009 in Phnom Penh recommendations how agricultural diversification could be promoted were elaborated in the second phase of the project. 6 Information Event in Phnom Penh, participants from different institutions discussed about strategies to promote the Agro-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 Royal University of Agriculture ( RUA ) and several donor organisations, such as the French Research and Technological Exchange Group (GRET) and the German Development Service (DED). Besides scientists and policy makers, also local farmers were invited to show their points of view. The Information Event ended with a Get together where all stakeholders were given the opportunity to meet and exchange. Opening of the Event by RUA s rector, Dr. Men Sarom The plenary session Get together at the end of the Event 26

27 2.5. Major activities within Work package 5 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. It is hosted on the homepage of the Organisation for International Dialogue and Conflict Management (IDC) and will be maintained also after the end of the project. The address of the Cambiodiversity website is biodiversity. This site is intended to provide essential information on the project, its aims, objectives and major tasks and activities and to briefly present the project participants and their institutions. The site has regularly been updated. 27

28 3. Outcomes and Impact 3.1 Analysis of assessment results In line with Cambiodiversity s overall aim to promote the understanding of the predominant position of rice and circumstances for further crop diversification in Cambodia s agricultural sector, the carried out assessment activities have focused on collecting the views and know how of farmers, scientists and other concerned stakeholders on these issues. The interviews, conducted in the capital of Phnom Penh and in several provinces, as well as the review of relevant literature and publications, have allowed to gather the following information. Reasons for the predominance of rice in Cambodia In terms of respondents answers about why they were cultivating rice or their opinions on why rice was generally so predominant, (1) all respondent (100%) gave the need to grow rice for household consumption as the main reason. Several respondents explained that apart from just being the usual and long-established thing to do, growing their own rice was cheaper than buying it from the market. (2) 98% of respondents also gave the fact that rice could easily be sold as a second reason for cultivating rice, often elaborating that they perceived the market for rice to be more stable than that of many or most other non-rice crops, simply because there would always be a demand for rice, whereas this was not guaranteed for other crops. As an example, one interviewed farmer stated that last year he grew sugar cane but the travelling hawker did not come to his village. As he had no other selling possibility or access to a market, his harvest was wasted. (3) 51% of respondents further stated that rice was also grown because it was easy to manage in terms of pests and diseases. Having cultivated rice for many generations, Cambodian farming households have extensive experience with rice cultivation and hence also feel confident about being able to appropriately manage any pest and diseases situations that may arise. With other, newer crops, on the other hand, they lack this confidence. (4) 23% of respondents lauded the easy storage properties of rice, stating that they did not need to worry about elaborate post harvest facilities or activities when cultivating rice, while this was certainly the case with some other, more perishable crops. (5) Finally, 22% of respondents noted the value of rice straw and husks for feeding cattle and pigs, often part of the farming system. Other crops that did not produce such a by-product often necessitated the buying-in of extra animal feed. 28

29 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 (possibly longer in the case of upland rice), while irrigated rice production technologies were first introduced along trade routes from India about 1,500 years ago (Chandler, 1993; Nesbitt, 1997). During the Angkor era (9 th -14 th Century), elaborate irrigation systems were constructed which reportedly allowed up to three rice harvests per year (Pillot, 2007) and the economic power of Angkor was rooted in rice agriculture. This perceived importance of rice has retained its predominant position in the Cambodian culture and tradition. Every year after harvest, for example, Cambodian farmers celebrate the Dalean Ceremony to give thanks to the land and the ancestors for granting a good rice harvest, while the Royal Ploughing Ceremony early in the year is used to predict rice yields for the coming season. Politically and economically: Economically and politically, rice too has played and plays a crucial role in Cambodian society. A large proportion of the population is currently directly dependant on rice yields for its livelihood, both in terms of subsistence and/or for income. Food security in Cambodian is closely associated to rice production. When, after nearly four years of Khmer Rouge misrule ( ), Cambodia rice harvests failed in the late 1970s and early 1980s, for example, the country was plunged into rampant and devastating famine, a phenomenon that gnawed itself deep into the Cambodian psyche. Accordingly, the strategy of various succeeding governments has always focused on increasing rice production as a means to feed the population. Indeed, although with more land put under rice and gradual gains in rice productivity, Cambodia became self-sufficient in rice on a national level about a decade ago (1999), strong regional disparities exist in food or rice security, with year-to-year performances also being variable. Agro-ecologically: Finally, the predominant agro-ecological conditions in the most populated areas of Cambodia lend themselves well to rice production. The regions around the main water bodies on the central plains, especially in the Great lake (Tonle Sap) basin, are home to almost 90% of Cambodians, and it is these regions where the lion s share of Cambodian agriculture is practised. Much of this area, in turn, is either dominated by sandy plain soils of relatively poor fertility or subject to periodical inundation. While many rice varieties and species, as well as many common or traditional rice cultivation systems used by Khmer farmers, are adapted to such circumstances, these conditions restrict the use of many other crops that are sensitive to water logging or require higher soil fertility to flourish, etc. 29