1 HUMBOLDT UNIVERSITÄT ZU BERLIN International Master of Science in Rural Development SA Kennvidy Academic year: 2006 – 2008 August, 28 th, 2008 Master thesis ORGANIC RICE FARMING SYSTEM IN CAMBODIA: POTENTIAL AND CONSTRAINTS OF SMALLHOLDER SYSTEMS IN TAKEO PROVINCE

2 Presentation outline 1.Introduction 2.Results 3.Discussion and suggestions 4.Conclusion

3 1. Introduction 1.1. What is organic farming? 1.2. Background of Cambodia 1.3. Objectives 1.4. Methodology

4 Organic farming is a production system that sustains the health of soils, ecosystems and people by reducing or eliminating external agricultural inputs, especially synthetic ones. With organic farming, farmers: -Can sell their produces in a higher price -Need not to spend on synthetic chemical fertilizers and pesticides. -Could be healthier from not being harmed by pesticides and -Better environment Organic farming

5 More than 120 countries has been practiced organic farming. 33 million hectares of organic land with 633,891 farms. Global organic land by continent Worldwide production of organic farming 38 %23 % 1 % 38 %23 %

6 Cambodia or Kingdom is located in Southeast Asia with the total area was 181,035 km 2. Total population is 14 million people and GDP per capita is USD 690 in And 36 % of total population are under the poverty line. Agricultural sector employs 75 % of labour forces and contributes 31 % of total GDP (2007). Rice occupies 90% of the total cultivated (3.9 million ha) and shares 50.4 percent of total farmers’ income Background of Cambodia

7 Revolution of rice farming system in Cambodia Conventional farming Agrochemical used Higher productivities More stable food security Present Organic farming Alternative farming system ? Balancing goals of productivity, costs, and environment? Traditional farming No agrochemicals Low costs of production Low productivities Unstable food security Traditional farming No agrochemicals Low costs of production Low productivities Unstable food security Traditional farming Impact of Conventional System Higher production costs Health impacts Environmental impacts Source: Author, 2008

8 Organic rice farming in Cambodia Organic rice farming movement in Cambodia is still limited. Organic rice occupied about 0.2 percent of the total rice land and 0.3 percent of total rice farmers. Still more rice farmers do not yet convert to organic farm. China India 1451 ha Cambodia Organic land in Asia by countries

Objectives of research The objectives were; To identify the management practices in organic farms and, To analyse the potential and constraints of smallholder systems. In order to be the guidelines in setting up appropriate strategies in the future

10 Study site: Tramkok districts, Takeo Province Methodology: Qualitative method of primary data collection, Questionnaires and semi-structured interviews with 60 farmers Methodology III II I Field visits.

11 2. Results 2.1. Cultivation practices of organic rice 2.2. Situation of organic farming in study area 2.3. Key differences between organic and conventional farms 2.4. Potentials and constraints of organic rice farming

12 d Source: Author, 2008 Organic rice farming system

13 Compost store Rice field after the harvesting PigsCattles

14 Land preparation -Plough at least 2 or 3 times -Apply compost and residue of previous crop Transplanting -Pulling of seedling in days from the nursery bed -Transplanting 1 seedling per hole -20x30 cm between each line and row Weed control -Two weeks after the transplantation -Tools: hoe and hand -Application of farm yard manure Harvesting days after the flowering stage -Tools: hand with the sickle Threshing and storage -Storage in the grange with % of moisture contained inside the grains -Separately from the conventional rice Source: Author, Cultivation practices of organic rice

15 Organic rice farming system has been rooted in area since 2004 by the promotion and market provision of a local NGO, “CEDAC”, with their own local certification standard. CEDAC: Cambodian Center for Agricultural Studies and Development 2.2. Situation of organic rice farming in study site Number of organic farms and organic rice production farms tons Organic rice farmsOrganic rice production Source: CEDAC, 2007 (Unpublished data)

16 Motivations behind farmers’ participation with organic initiatives Source: Author, 2008

Key differences in organic and conventional farms Organic farm (OF) Conventional farm (CF) OF-CF  Percentage Average yield (ton per ha)2,592,460,135% price per kg (riel) % Gross revenue (riel) % Cost of fertilizers (riel) % Labour used (man-day)87,465,122,3034% - Nutrient management (md)8,51,27,30608% - Manual weeding (md)19,23,815,40405% Source: Author, 2008

18 The reasons of conventional farmers do not convert to organic farms Too limited family labours for meeting requirement of organic farms. Attitude of “More chemical fertilizers, more yields”. Rice farming is secondary source of income. Do not fully trust the idea of organic farming due to lacks of or mis-information.

19 StrengthsWeaknesses High income Sufficient supplies for household consumption (food security) High quality (better taste and smell of organic rice) Better for health and environment Require more labours Suitable only for small scale farm Conflicts with conventional farms Potentials and constraints of organic rice farming

20 OpportunitiesThreats Technical and market support from NGOs Government policies (Research and development, organic law) Niche market and export opportunities (EU, USA etc) Small market opportunities Poor infrastructure (irrigation system) The NGO’s project is only dependent on foreign funds (Unsustainable). Potentials and constraints of organic rice farming (end)

21 3. Discussion and suggestion 3.1. How to improve weaknesses of organic farming? 3.2. How to cope with threats in organic farming?

Improve the weaknesses of organic farming WeaknessesStrategies Require more labours (in weed control) Adopt the preventive methods for weed management – crop rotation (rice –soybean), – selected variety which is competitive against weeds – biological control (e.g. ducks) Conflicts with conventional farms. Try to convince CF to convert into organic farm Leave some buffer space between their farms and conventional farms (security space).

Improve the threats of organic farming ThreatsStrategies Small market opportunities Develop organic market by the investment in the agro-industry sector and certificating institutes promoting for consumers’ awareness Poor infrastructure in the rural area Build more canals, road and bridges Unsustainable fund of NGOs projects Corroboration with international agencies for more sustainable technical and financial aids.

24 4. Conclusion

25 Introducing organic practices to farmers in the study site has been evidenced as improving farmers’ income and leads to a more stable and balanced ecosystem without water pollution and soil degradation Organic rice farming has high potentials to be pushed as the key development strategy for smallholder rice farmers (less than 0.75 ha) in Cambodia who occupying 50% of the farms in this country. The action plans need to be created by all stakeholders to overcome the constraints. Conclusion

26 Thank for your attention !

27 Multiple effects of duck-azolla-rice farming system Duck in Rice field (China)