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PROGRESS REPORT 2013 Rice-based Systems Research program: food security in Lao PDR, Cambodia & Bangladesh INTRODUCTION

This is the third annual progress report for the smallholder agricultural systems of developing Rice-based Systems Research (RSR) program: country partners. food security in Lao PDR, Cambodia and Bangladesh. The reporting period broadly spans The RSR program explores opportunities to Jun 2012 to May 2013. alleviate poverty through improving the productivity and profitability of rice-based The report comprises three parts: an outline of farming systems. These systems comprise both the program; program impacts; and progress rainfed and irrigated agriculture, and are often against the program framework. integrated with livestock production. For acronyms and abbreviations, please refer to The program’s portfolio comprises the following the last page of this report. five large-scale farm productivity projects, together with a suite of smaller policy-focused ABOUT THE RSR PROGRAM projects: The RSR program is one of four programs 1. Developing improved farming and developed by ACIAR under the Food Security marketing systems in rainfed regions of through Rural Development initiative southern Lao PDR (CSE/2009/004). announced in the 2009 federal budget. The program invests almost 2. Improved rice germplasm for Cambodia A$15 million over a five-year period and Australia (CSE/2009/005). (2009-14) in the target countries of 3. Improved rice establishment and Lao PDR, Cambodia and Bangladesh. productivity in Cambodia and Australia (CSE/2009/037). ACIAR is a statutory authority that operates as 4. Improved irrigation water management to part of the Australian Government's increase rice productivity Cambodia development cooperation programs. The Centre (LWR/2009/046). encourages Australia's agricultural scientists to use their skills for the benefit of developing 5. Introduction of short duration pulses into countries and Australia. ACIAR’s 2011-12 rice-based cropping systems in western Revised Corporate Plan identifies improving Bangladesh (CIM/2009/038). food and nutrition security as a core goal; to be 6. Policy projects: achieved by targeting productivity gains in (a) Agricultural policies affecting rice- based farming systems in Bangladesh,

1 Cambodia and Lao PDR (ASEM/2009/039);

2 (b) Developing agricultural policies for rice-based farming systems in PROGRAM IMPACTS Cambodia and Lao PDR This section presents a summary of the (ASEM/2009/023); and program’s impacts (and highly probable (c) Policy constraints in rice-based impacts) to-date according to the three impact farming systems in Bangladesh scales identified in the program’s strategic (ASEM/2011/005). framework – household/village, district/provincial and national/regional. An overview of the physical setting of the projects is provided in Table 1. Although some impacts occur at multiple scales, the points listed here are categorised under the Collectively, the projects span crop and primary scale of the impact. livestock development; best-practice management; technological advances; new Household/village level cropping niches; targeted marketing and extension; and alternative evidence-based  Collaborating farmers have gained new policy options. The policy work will both inform skills and equipment, with a small but and draw from the relevant farm productivity immediate impact on incomes projects. (projects 1-5).  Net household income is expected to Program structure and project design reflect increase through higher yields and/or a the differing research needs of related reduction in production costs (in either programs operating in each partner country, absolute or per unit terms) from including ACIAR and non-ACIAR research. The implementation of improved cropping and major programs are the AusAID-funded livestock, and better water and nutrient Cambodia Agriculture Value Chain (CAVAC) management techniques (project 1). program, IFAD-ADB program in southern Lao PDR, and the Gates Foundation/USAID Cereal  High yielding upland rice varieties should Systems Initiative for South Asia in Bangladesh. improve farmer livelihoods in poor upland districts (project 1).  Farmer interest is growing in technologies for livestock intensification, such as use of forage, treated rice straw and feed mixtures for piglets (project 1).  Some farmers have adopted newly introduced lines before their official release (project 2).

Table 1: Summary of the physical setting of each project

Farm productivity projects Policy projects 1 2 3 4 5 6(a) 6(b) 6(c) Physical setting L C C C B L, C, B L, C B Irrigated ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ Rainfed ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ Lowlands ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ Uplands ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ L = Lao PDR; C = Cambodia; B = Bangladesh

3  Farmers used project-supplied drum varieties will stabilise the soil surface and seeders to re-sow rice crops following the groundcover (project 1). severe flooding in Kampong Thom in late  Intensification of lowland rice systems, 2011, and have expressed interest in together with improved integration of ongoing access to or purchase of new forage and improved livestock equipment (project 3). management, may take pressure off  Farmers participating in project-initiated shifting cultivation in upland environments land levelling and water management have (project 1). achieved average annual profitability  The project will advance the understanding increases estimated at US$50/ha (project of nitrogen-moisture interactions in crop 4). production in the diversifying rice-based  Anecdotal evidence at the household level systems of Savannakhet and Champassak suggests that improvements in rice provinces (project 1). productivity through laser levelling and  The typology of households developed will better water management may flow to be useful not only for the project but also family education benefits through greater for the region (project 1). capacity to pay for schooling (project 4).  Seeding technology has been introduced  Profits for farmers using relay sown lentil that has the potential to improve rice into standing transplanted (T.) aman rice production in parts of Cambodia (project in rabi (dry season; DS) exceeded that of 3). conventionally sown crops by more than A reduction in off-site environmental 50%; that is, gaining 0.6 t/ha on average  in relay sown lentil over conventional sole impacts associated with rice farming is sowing (project 5). expected with uptake of the project- developed improved water management  For mungbean, 105 ha of demonstration practices (project 4). sites during season kharif 1 (wet season; Introduction of mungbean cultivation in the WS) yielded 29-34% more (an additional  36 tonnes) than for farmers’ standard kharif 1 (WS) fallow period has opened practice (project 5). opportunities for employment in regions of western Bangladesh, and enabled women  For farmers who cultivated mungbean and youths to earn up to A$2.50/day during 2012 kharif 1 (WS), 1.2-1.8 t/ha (project 5). was harvested in lieu of fallow land, which amounted to an average profit of National/regional level A$350/ha after accounting for extra costs (seed, fertiliser, insecticide, labour)  In-country scientists (and farmers) have (project 5). gained knowledge and skills that can further enhance the development of District/provincial level agriculture (all projects).

 New understanding of marketing chains  In Cambodia and Lao PDR, a range of and economic returns, pond hydrology and instruments and machinery has been supplementary water, optimisation of rice purchased and installed for use in rice- and post-rice crops with forage and their based systems research (projects 1-4). integration with livestock (project 1).  Varieties with submergence tolerance  Projects have delivered significant capacity identified by the project may generate building at all levels; from technical and early economic impacts in flood-prone scientific, to collaborative and social, as areas, such as near the Mekong and other well as managerial, budget and reporting rivers in the lowlands (project 1). (projects 1-5).  Use of crop residues and fodder crops in  Improvements in rice performance in integrated livestock production, as an fragile submergence-prone lowland and alternative to burning, would reduce air drought-prone uplands via improved pollutants and greenhouse gas emissions (project 1).

4  The introduction and screening of field pea) into rice-based farming systems perennial rice lines from China has the in western Bangladesh (project 5). potential to lead to releases of new  Green pod harvest of pea as a vegetable varieties in the foreseeable future (project has developed into a major market 1). opportunity following project  Equipment installation and training of demonstrations; in particular it provides CARDI staff for rice quality evaluation has additional employment for women in green had immediate impact on its rice pod harvesting and in the preparation and improvement program (project 2). marketing of produce for transport to  CARDI has approval for routine urban areas (project 5). measurement of amylose following  Research findings on Stemphylium blight of proficiency testing by the International lentil will have long-term beneficial effects Network for Quality Rice (INQR) (project on pulse production not only in Bangladesh 2). but also in India, Nepal and Myanmar  CLEAR v.2 spatial database has been (project 5). released and has more than 500 registered  Research policy gaps that are critically users, and is freely available through important for sustaining rice-based farming aWhere until Feb 2014 (and, subject to systems in Bangladesh have been negotiations, potentially much longer) identified and analysed (project 3). (project 6c).  Cambodia’s water resource use planning capability is greatly enhanced by the availability of benchmarks for crop water productivity (WP) and deep drainage for different hydro-climatic regions and soil types; these are based on combined data from the reference evapotranspiration (ETo) automatic weather station (AWS) network, circular flumes and measured yield (project 4).  The AWS network is now demonstrating high potential for major improvements in meteorological observation collection efficiency for Cambodia, and is on a similar technological level to other improvements in MOWRAM, such as weather radar (project 4).  MOWRAM has added ‘orphan’ weather stations from ceased aid projects to its network following the demonstration of feeding weather station data direct to the internet, and is likely to use this approach for its new weather stations (project 4).  MOWRAM-TSC now has the ability to build, source and operate laser levelling equipment in Cambodia, and has

undertaken field demonstrations and trials Testing alkalinity and iron in groundwater [Wendy Quayle, CSIRO] of the equipment (project 4).  Pulse production has been reinvigorated by incorporating pulses (lentil, mungbean and

5 PROGRESS AGAINST THE FRAMEWORK Approach This section summarises key messages for the The approach is to use shorter season varieties, 2012-13 reporting period, together with improve on-farm water and soil fertility challenges to project delivery, according to the management (e.g. water harvesting practices, five core strategies of the program. Table 2 minimium tillage, supplementary irrigation), indicates which projects contribute to each of and introduce rotation crops (such as legumes, these five strategies. which can catalyse multiple cropping options).

Contributors

The Strategies Project 1 contributes to this strategy primarily through developing management options for 1. Intensify crops rainfed transplanted and direct-seeded rice and post-rice crops (e.g. pulses, vegetables, 2. Boost yields forages).

3. Improve livestock Project 2 contributes to this strategy primarily through developing and enhancing access to 4. Strengthen policy improved rice varieties. Project 3 contributes to this strategy primarily 5. Build capacity through looking at matching production systems to soil type and water availability/quality and at alternative mechanisation options, including for reduced Intensify crops and zero-tillage practices. The program aims to intensify rice-based Project 4 contributes to this strategy primarily production systems by increasing the number through examining how to increase water of crops grown on the same land each year productivity and reduce yield variability. following the main rice crop. Project 5 contributes to this strategy primarily through targeting the integration of short duration pulses (lentil, mungbean and field pea) into rice-based systems.

Table 2: The contribution of individual projects to the program strategies

Farm productivity projects Policy projects 1 2 3 4 5 6(a) 6(b) 6(c) Program strategies Intensify crops – rice ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ – other ✔ ✔ ✔ Boost yields – rice ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ – other ✔ ✔ ✔ Improve livestock ✔ Strengthen policy ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ Build capacity ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔

6 any of the three main technologies – Key messages 2012-13 mechanised land preparation, improved Project 1 – Farming and marketing varieties or inorganic fertiliser. systems  Policy-related findings from the economic analysis are reported under Household typology ‘Strengthen policy’.  A typology of farm households and Marketing chains different livelihood strategies has been developed based on household survey  A study of marketing chains in data from ten villages in Savannakhet Savannakhet province for rice, large province and six in Champassak ruminants and pigs, involving interviews province. with 136 people, was completed in  Four broad types of household Sep 2011. orientation were identified – labour-  Farmers perceive rice as the oriented households, subsistence- household’s major income source, while oriented households, semi-commercial they consider pigs to be a form of (market-oriented) households, and cashflow and large ruminants as their households with diversified livelihoods – savings. which households move between each  Some market information flows from year. traders to farmers on rice inputs (seed,  Household survey data reveal wide fertiliser and pesticide) and price, but variations in access to resources, the only on an adhoc basis. portfolio of activities that households  Paddy rice left farms through two engaged in, resource utilisation in each channels: (a) farmers sold to local activity, and livelihood outcomes like collectors who sold it wholesale to local self-sufficiency and household income. rice mills (about one third of paddy rice  Households in Lao PDR and sold); and (b) farmers sold directly to neighbouring countries have become local rice mills who sold the milled rice increasingly diversified with the wholesale to large rice mills outside the emergence of non-farm opportunities. district (about two thirds of paddy rice sold). The milled rice was subsequently Economic analysis sold to retailers and consumers.  An economic analysis of lowland rice  Household survey data in 2010 showed production used data from 360 that more than 56% of producers in the households in six villages in upland agro-ecosystem in Savannakhet Savannakhet and six in Champassak, planted bananas and 26% planted and was supplemented with 31 case yangbong (Persea kurzii) as cash crops, studies, together with project and mainly for export to Vietnam (80-90%) historical agronomic trial results. and representing around 75% of their  The economic analysis comprised the cash income. construction of model budgets for  A study of cropping systems and the various input scenarios with sensitivity marketing chain for banana and analysis, threshold analysis, and risk yangbong in five villages in Sepon and analysis conducted for each scenario. Nong districts (Savannakhet province),  96% of surveyed households grew including interviews with 209 people, paddy rice in the 2010 WS, of which was completed in Dec 2012, and found: only 40% sold any product. o There are three banana cropping  Rice production remains an system – banana cropping without economically marginal activity that is another crop, banana cropping with under increasing pressure from rising rice, and banana cropping with costs, particularly for labour. yangbong – with the cropping  Only eleven of the 347 households system associated with yangbong growing paddy rice had not adopted earning the highest income (12,776,500 LAK/ha; 147,800  400 farmers in Savannakhet, Salavanh LAK/person day). and Champassak provinces received o There are three yangbong cropping seed kits (5 kg of TDK1 Sub-1 and systems – yangbong cropping growing recommendations in Phaasa without another crop, yangbong Lao), including tips on promoting cropping with rice, and yangbong growth recovery and grain yield after cropping with banana – with inundation in the 2012 WS. yangbong and banana returning the  In the 2013 WS, a follow-up survey will highest income to farmers be conducted to poll farmers’ (as above). experiences with the variety and to o The major problems of banana track farmer-to-farmer seed production and marketing are dissemination. disease, labour supply, price Aerobic rice varieties fluctuations and inadequate access to investment capital, while for  Grain yield differed over environments yangbong the issues are insects, in an evaluation of aerobic rice varieties insufficient land and labour, and (B6144-MR-6, IR55423, TDK11) for inadequate capital. drought-prone areas, which can be grown in both upland and lowland Lao rice varieties conditions, undertaken on farmers’  Performance of 13 popularly-grown Lao fields in Phine, Xepon, Outhomphone rice varieties differed significantly across and Soukhouma districts. on-farm and on-station trial sites with  More aerobic rice entries will be tested grain yield of TDK1 and TDK11 stable to find suitable rice germplasm material across the two trial years and, in for these environments. contrast, TDK8, TSN8, PNG1 and VT450-2 showing variable yield Dry season production response between the two growing  An evaluation of the effects of DS crop seasons. production on subsequent WS rice  Trial data will be used to evaluate the productivity was conducted in more best performing varieties for specific than 30 farmers’ fields in Savannakhet sites and to define most suitable and Champassak provinces. growing areas for each variety.  Technical support and material Upland rice varieties assistance (seeds, fencing and, in some cases, low-cost pumps) was provided to  Multi-environment trials on farmers’ farmers with on-farm ponds and tube fields using four traditional cultivars wells, and an interest in engaging in DS from northern Lao PDR (Nok, Non, production of vegetables (long bean, Laboun, Makhinsoung) and an aerobic cucumber and chilli) and field crops rice line (B6144F-MR-6) were conducted (peanut, mungbean and sweet corn). in Xepon and Nong districts; producing  Sweet corn and long bean provided more than twice the grain yield of local farmers with higher cash income than check cultivars in the first year, but other crops, however, crop prices varied falling by about half in 2012 (a much significantly among locations. drier year), albeit consistent with upland rice fields in northern Lao PDR.  The impact of residual fertiliser on the WS rice crop will be evaluated during Flood tolerance the 2013 WS.  Data indicate strong genotype by Rice gall midge environment interactions between TDK1 Sub-1 (an improved Lao glutinous rice  Work on crop protection began in 2012 variety in which the Sub-1 gene has focusing on rice gall midge, a serious been introduced) and its growing pest on lowland rice, with four major environment. lines of investigation (assessment, varietal resistance, control and ecological engineering). Project 2 – Rice germplasm Australian direct-seeding trials  The project’s multi-location germplasm  Five germplasm evaluation trials in trials in Cambodia are summarised in tropical Australia on emergence, yield, Table 3, and yield results are presented blast tolerance, nutrition and flowering in the ‘Boost yields’ section. date conducted over both the WS (QLD  In the 2013 WS, CAVAC will utilise 8-10 & NT) and DS (WA, QLD & NT) suggest lines provided by the project in six trials three promising new introductions from (three on-station and three on-farm) in Vietnam (QLD & NT). three provinces (Takeo, Battambang  Most germplasm, including new and Svay Rieng). introductions, were sensitive to blast when exposed in a WS trial. Aerobic rice trials  Cold tolerance, regardless of location,  A few lines (e.g. IR80013-B-141-4-1, was a major contributor to yield IR66, IR07L122) showed promise for performance in DS trials. usage in Cambodia’s uplands (in the  Good grain yields (>7 t/ha) and quality WS) and lowlands with limited irrigation (including aroma) were achieved across (in the DS) with maturation in about trial locations. 100-105 days under direct-seeded conditions and with plant height around  Five out of 21 new introductions from 1 m. south-east Asia have been identified as photoperiod insensitive in both  Some lines performed very differently glasshouse and field evaluations. across seasons (e.g. IR78875-207-B-1-B and BP223 E-MR-5); the reasons for which remain unclear at this stage.

Photoperiod insensitivity  Progress on germplasm improvement is summarised in Table 4 for early maturing photoperiod insensitivity with desired quality for irrigated DS and supplementary irrigated rice.

Rice quality  The main quality themes that all members of the rice value chain consider important are grain shape, translucence, softness of cooked rice and aroma.  A new set of data to explain the flavour, taste and aroma of good quality rice varieties will result from metabolomic profiling of a selection of good and poor quality types by the University of Queensland (UQ).

General Directorate of Agriculture researcher discussing weed control with the owner of an experimental site [David Johnson, IRRI]

Table 3: Summary of multi-location germplasm n Plant selection from F2 populations carried out in 3 crosses made in the 2011 WS to develop short duration varieties trials in Cambodia g the 2012 WS. for the DS. F3 lines evaluated in the 2013 DS. p Trial type No. of lines Source Timing h Aerobic trials 45 IRRI 2011 WS 3 on-station replicateo trials in Bati, Prey Pdau and CARDI; fertilised at a rate of 45 IRRI 2012 DS t 60N:30P o 32 IRRI 2012 WS s On-farm trials 11 IRRI 2012 DS On-farm replicatee trials at 10 sites in Prey for very early Veng, Takeo andn CARDI; irrigated and maturing lines s fertilised at a ratei of 60N:30P t 15 IRRI 2012 WS As above, but at 13 sites in Prey Veng, i Takeo, Kampong Thom, Kampot and v CARDI. i 15 IRRI 2013 DS As above t y On-station 30 IRRI 2012 DS 6 on-station replicateNotes: WS=wet trials (Bati, season; Prey DS=dry season; BPH=Brown trials for early Pdau, Dunkeo,Plant Santuk, Hopper; Chum IRRI=International Kiri and Rice Research Institute; maturing lines CARDI) in 5 provincesCARDI=Cambodian (Takeo, Kampong Agricultural Research and Speu, Phnom DevelopmentPenh, Kampong Institute; Thom andF2(F3)=the second(third) filial Kampot); undergeneration lowland conditionscomprising and offspring resulting from a cross of the members of F1(F2) generation fertilised at a rate of 60N:30P 30 IRRI 2012 WS As above. Some lines replaced by others from the 2 40 IRRI 2013 DS 6 stations to evaluate promising lines; mostly from 2 On-station 40 IRRI 2012 DS As per ‘on-station trials for early maturing trials for lines’ above. medium 40 IRRI 2012 WS As above. Some lines replaced by others maturing lines from the 2 56 IRRI 2103 DS As above. Lines mostly from the 2 imported batch. Notes: WS=wet season; DS=dry season; IRRI=International Rice Research Institute; CARDI=Cambodian Agricultural Research and

Development Institute; N=nitrogen; P2O5=phosphorus pentoxide; K2O=potassium oxide; BPH=Brown Plant Hopper

Table 4: Improved germplasm having early maturing photoperiod insensitivity with desired quality for irrigated dry season and supplementary irrigated rice.

Evaluation activity E 70 lines tested in multi-location trials in the 2012 Grouped into ‘early’ (30 lines) and ‘medium’ (40 lines) sets based on a WS. maturity. r 6 sites in 5 provinces (Takeo, Kampot, Kampong Thom, Kampong l Speu, and Phnom Penh). y Two larger sets tested at the same 6 sites in the 40 in ‘early’ and 56 in ‘medium’, mostly from the second imported m 2013 DS. batch. a 13 lines with very short duration promoted to on- 10 sites in the 2012 DS and 13 sites in the 2012 WS and 2013 DS, t farm trials in the 2012 DS and WS, and repeated respectively. u in the 2013 DS. r i 45 lines for BPH tolerance from IRRI further Naturally-occurring BPH population may be insufficient for such a evaluated in the 2013 DS at CARDI. screening. lines, two Project 3 – Rice areas have Cambodian Project 4 – establishment Irrigation water been adapted lines (IR66 and productivity management and and Sen incorporated Integrated Pidao) and Land levelling cropping into field three IRRI experiment experiments. checks.  Five field demonstratio  Field trials  Salinity field  CARDI, GDA ns for current have been trials have and RUA best-practice conducted at been continue to land levelling CARDI on the established at conduct the and the use of seed three sites farming management drills, and on with two systems of water and the use of sown in Oct integrated fertiliser have hydrotiller 2012 (the cropping operated in and drum second of experiment Takeo (three seeders in which was re- (ICE), which by CARDI and recession rice sown in Nov examines the two by areas. due to over- impact of MOWRAM-  Khmer watering by cropping TSC) over language the season and two DS rice publications landholder) cropping crops, and on rice- and the third intensity on additional growing abandoned the trials in practices, due to over- performance Kampong weed control sowing. of rice crops Thom have and and monitors  Differential been machinery weed responses established. manuals have from rice competition.  The project been varieties to  Changes in has reached produced for salinity the weed its target for use in treatments at spectrum in the area of promoting different the ICE trials land laser best-bet growth are being levelled of ‘up technologies stages have evaluated by to 75 ha’, and to Cambodian resulted from local aims to farmers. glasshouse collaborators significantly experiments. and by Australian expand on visiting IRRI salinity trials  A salinity this through staff. stress index  Fifteen semi- the provision is under of a hire/loan Best-bet dwarf rice development. laser bucket technologies varieties are being and  Best-bet assessed for equipment weed salinity for use by management tolerance at private approaches vegetative contractors. (rotary/cono and  MOWRAM- weeder and reproductive TSC levelled available stages: eight an additional herbicides) current 20 ha in from Australian Takeo and elsewhere in varieties, two Kampong Asian rice- unreleased Thom growing Australian provinces during the which allows and on-farm water reporting access to measurement management period. real-time s at Takeo have been evapotranspir will conclude discussed Meteorological ation data in Jul 2013, with CARDI data and with both and a trial of  Available warehoused data used to ‘alternate meteorologic historical data calibrate and wetting and al data and to anyone in verify the drying’ metadata for the world on APSIM- (AWD) is Cambodia a smartphone ORYZA rice anticipated. or through modelling for have been Groundwater compiled, and the web Cambodia. further data online (as  The CARDI  Two long- from paper above). site has term records in the Water continued to groundwater provinces are availability and undertake a monitoring being sought productivity water and sites have to fill key nitrogen been gaps.  The project management established in  Automatic has experimental Toul Sangkor weather developed a trial and has and Ta Ei stations benchmark investigated villages, and (AWS) have for WP within split nitrogen temporal been Cambodia, application analysis of established in and an during the groundwater three excellent last DS. levels and provinces, understandin  Researchers water quality g of the and have will be water balance additional developed monitored of both DS stations have some over a two and WS rice. been added methodologie year period. to the  Research s for  Project data network at results expanding indicate the request indicate that and mapping shallow of MOWRAM CARDI’s rice water groundwater (http://weath recommende requirements salinities up er.irrigateway d practices across to 1.9 dS m-1 . for geographical during net/cambodia agricultural areas and irrigation /). rice WP, looking at pumping  Issues with when how this periods. benchmarked affects 3G/GPRS Project 5 – against productivity network Introduction of neighbouring in relation to protocols short duration practices, are water have been pulses overcome relatively infrastructure and stations good. and  All are now  On-station hydrology. experiments actively water-use  Potential in the two delivering measurement interventions main crop data directly s for rice in the value seasons – to the web crops at chain for kharif 1 (WS) through ftp CARDI are improved and (DS) – protocol, completed early season were conducted extended in farmers has spraying) for under the the project commenced. the supervision of area during  Lentil cultivation of scientists rabi (DS) varieties, mungbean from BARI- (Nov 2012– BARI Masur was PRC in Feb 2013) 4, 5, 6 and 7, disseminated collaboration with a were among with its on- demonstratio multiplied in farmers farm research n area in one the 2012-13 during kharif division. village season for 1 (WS) (Mar-  Fieldwork for increasing use next Jun 2012). a baseline from 2 ha in year, and a  Mungbean survey of 2011-12 to total of 3.95 seed target areas 27 ha in tonnes of multiplication was 2012-13. quality seed was completed in  Relay sown produced. undertaken in Apr 2012 by lentils were  Super-early 2012 for BARI’s socio- not lentil lines distribution to economics harvestable flowered ±15 growers in group, and between T. days earlier 2013 with the analysis aman and than BARI around 2.3 of potential boro rice controls, but tonnes of constraints to cultivation, did not seed and but were for mature produced and opportunities other earlier than distributed in for short cropping the BARI Mar 2013 duration systems (i.e. varieties, through pulses is now T. aman- which BARI, DAE completed. lentil-jute, confirmed and NGOs to T. aman- 50 farmers Lentil first year lentil-aus experimental for kharif 1  The project rice). results. (WS). promotes  Data has  Low yields Pea relay sowing been resulted from in order to collected on super-early  Short gain time for soil and lentil lines duration lentil weather (0.5 to 1.1 green pea cultivation, as conditions t/ha) lines (less most existing during relay compared to than 60 days cropping sowing of BARI controls to first pod systems use lentil, which (1.4 to 2.1 harvest) can delayed sole could be used t/ha). be grown cropping, to determine (but not relay which does the suitability Mungbean sown) in not allow of a target between T.  Project- lentil area for aman and T. recommende cultivation. technology boro d optimum implementati (irrigated)  Project- cultivation on. rice crops. recommende technology d practice  Dissemination (line sowing,  Long duration (relay sowing of technology needs-based pea lines of lentil into for relay irrigation, and (around 90 standing T. sowing timely days to first aman rice) among lentil weeding and pod harvest) has been insecticide can be grown in between T. on-farm in evaluated in the aman and T. the current two locations Cambodian aus rice for reporting with two uplands, vegetable or period as an cultivars where seed option for (long aerobic rice is purposes replacing the duration grown, is either as fallow Natore local small in area relay or sole between T. and short and distant crops. aman and T. duration BARI from the  Adaptive boro rice. project trials of relay  Fourteen pea Motorsuti 3). provinces) sowing of pea lines (eight  A total of 1.3 (project 2). into T. aman long duration tonnes of pea  F6 population rice were and six short seed (Natore production is conducted at duration) Local, BARI needed three selected from Motorshuti 3 before locations for 2011 and IPSA research can green pod germplasm Motorshuti 3) be completed harvest, and screening has been by UQ on results were multiplied for explaining the showed an evaluated for next year’s flavour, taste economic use in the T. experimentati and aroma of benefit from aman and on. good quality growing an T. boro rice rice varieties extra crop cropping Challenges to from project delivery between two system at metabolomic rice crops. Ishurdi.  Cancellation profiling of  Results from  An on-station of the World good and on-farm trials experiment Bank’s Rice poor quality of green pea was Productivity types (project harvest at conducted at Improvement 2). two locations Rajshahi to Project (WB-  Field (Kushtia and insert pea RPIP) screening for Jessore) into the T. required submergence demonstrated aman-boro adjustments tolerance is that BARI rice cropping to the delayed until Motorshuti 3 pattern by project’s CARDI’s would be ‘widening the outreach screening profitable to window’ from plans (project facility is include in the rice side 1). completed, place of with long and  Suitable sites which is fallow in T. short for on-farm anticipated in aman (BINA duration rice testing of the 2013 WS 7 cultivar)– varieties elite aerobic (project 2). fallow–T. grown and lines are  Drill sown boro (BRRI followed by being sought, treatments dhan 28) rice pea (BARI but this is no have been pattern. Motorshuti 3 longer a high established  The cropping or IPSA priority (as by hand pattern T. Motorshuti aerobic rice direct- aman–pea– 3). growing is seeding T. boro has  Effect of ‘date rarely where been tried of sowing’ on practised in machinery both on- green pod the study has not been station and harvest was provinces and suitable for soil/weather groundwater conditions (project 4). Boost yields bet options for (project 3). crop and livestock  Lentil The program management  Loss of research is aims to boost options, and experimental now focused yields by looking at sites due to on the improving the opportunities for direct window efficiency of supplementary flooding between T. water and irrigation through impacts and aman and T. nutrient use. water-use migration of aus efficiency. rats (project (transplanted Approach 3). in Mar), as Project 2 first year data The entry point contributes to this  Further for yield development showed that strategy primarily early- enhancement is to through of Cambodian improve the crop knowledge on maturing accounting for the lentil lines, water-use increasing herbicide efficiency of both resistance is including variability of super-early irrigated and seasonal needed dryland (project 3). relay sown conditions and lines, will not components of greater use of  Glasshouse fit into the rice-based direct-seeding in air- window systems. WP its extensive rice conditioners between a T. gains will need to germplasm require aman and T. be underpinned improvement replacement boro by sustainable soil work. by NSW DPI (transplanting fertility. This will Project 3 before trials in spring) necessitate contributes to this planned for (project 5). targeted research this year on to develop site- strategy primarily rice salinity  Availability of specific nutrient through exploring tolerance and seeds of management how to better use of saline selected systems, including match production water can varieties is more efficient use systems to soil proceed limited, and of fertilisers, soil type and water (project 3). constrains ameliorants, availability, with a some  There are green and animal particular focus on experiments too few wells manures and direct-seeding. and residues. Tailoring to produce a Project 4 dissemination agronomic map of contributes to this activities practices (e.g. groundwater strategy primarily (project 5). weed quality and through management, usage, developing a planting methods) however, a greater to local conditions report will be understanding of will further produced crop water enhance water that requirements and and nutrient incorporates how to plan, efficiency. detailed schedule and analysis of Contributors manage water the quality of and fertiliser at bore water, Project 1 the field scale to soils and contributes to this maximise crops grown strategy primarily production. with through developing best- Project 5 among the nutrient contributes to this Key messages perennial line treatments 2012-13 strategy primarily entries in (60-30-30 N- through focusing Project 1 – 2011 were P-K and nil), on new super- Farming and statistically two water short duration marketing significant treatments cultivars, relay systems with lines (supplementa cropping and 2011HN_FS_ ry, and nil) Perennial rice minimum tillage. 213 and and three lines RD23 varieties  Rice varieties performing using a with the best. randomised ‘perennial’  Grain yields blocks design trait – sown in 2012 were with three once and left much lower replicates in over several than in 2011 five villages seasons – are among all each in targeted to entries, and Savannakhet sloping lines and uplands for 2011HN_FS_ Champassak soil erosion 213 and provinces control, grain RD23 were took place in production best among 2009 and (at least in the entries in 2010. the first year) both years.  62% of and forage variation in for livestock, Risk grain yield manipulation with no was labour  Lao farmers attributable needed for are reluctant to location crop to apply effects, and establishment fertiliser due the remaining in subsequent to unreliable 38% was years. crop yield attributable  Trials of 13 responses. to nutrient/wate promising  A study r treatments perennial explored and their lines from a opportunities interactions. cross of wild to use rice (Oryza combinations  Rice longistaminat of nutrient responded to a) and an application supplementar established (at rates y water only rice variety likely to be when (RD23) were economically nutrients replicated in viable), were Xepon supplementar adequate. (Savannakhet y water  Results province) and application indicate that Pakse and choice of farmers have (Champassak rice varieties a choice of province) in to vary risk of management the 2011 WS. crop loss. options to  Grain yield  On-farm increase rice differences testing of two productivity and achieved 4-5 due to 13) on a self- household t/ha at some improved soil mulching clay livelihoods. sites in water-holding soil at Leeton Champassak capacity Field Station Nutrient province. rather than (NSW). management enhanced Bentonite  Average grain  A study on nutrient yields may be site-specific  The effect supply or slightly nutrient and nutrient- reduced for management economics of holding delayed evaluated five soil capacity. permanent fertiliser rates improvement Australian water and four rice with delayed compared to varieties in 18 bentonite clay permanent conventional farmers’ amendments water trials drill, but the fields to has been water savings estimate the tested in on-  Four years of are significant amount of station trials field at 19% for fertiliser (N- at two typical experiments the more P-K) needed rice growing on the water- to achieve a sites, practice of stressed target rice Thasano delaying the treatment. application of grain yield of (Savannakhet  Delayed permanent 5 t/ha based province) and permanent water on site soil Pakse water (continuous properties. (Champassak produces a flooding) to  The province). 15% increase drill sown rice recommende  Grain yield in WP in south d fertiliser was compared to eastern rate for rice consistently conventional Australia (60-30-30) higher in drill sown show that it gave the best plots treated rice. is a very economic with 1 t/ha successful  There was no returns and 2 t/ha of option for major among bentonite in reducing rice difference in treatments, the three- water-use grain yield while model- year and between the recommende experiment in improving varieties d rates Thasano, WP. Langi, Reiziq achieved the whereas and Sherpa  The first two yield target bentonite when grown years of (5 t/ha) at application, using delayed experiments some sites, at any rate, permanent (2009-10 and but were had little or water with all 2010-11) uneconomical no effect on varieties were . rice grain responding conducted on  Rice varieties yield in similarly to a red-brown TSN8 and Pakse. nitrogen rate earth soil at TSN9 gave  Results and Yanco the best grain suggest that application Agricultural yield at the positive timing. Institute almost all effect of (NSW) and  The highest sites, and bentonite on the last two grain yields TDK8 and grain yield at years (2011- are achieved TDK11 Thasano was 12 and 2012- with a single application of for  Ponds are an significant nitrogen supplementar important negative applied as y irrigation of resource to effect on crop urea to the DS non-rice farmers for income, but dry soil prior crops. aquaculture not total to the  Recharge of and, in some income. application of the deeper cases,  An increase permanent aquifer supplementar of one water. system y irrigation hectare in for small- Groundwater comes from irrigated area scale resources the east compared to associated vegetable previously  Around 14- with the production non-irrigated 20% of Mekong River and WS rice land will annual and to the during an increase rainfall is uplands west early, WS average net estimated to of the drought. crop income recharge the Mekong  A majority of by 18.4 surface floodplain. ponds fill million groundwater  Poor recovery during the LAK/yr. system across rates after WS and many  Irrigation by Champassak pumping in empty by the pond water province, the end of the increases mostly via observational DS, which is livestock vertical well at Hiang due in part to income by leakage from indicates little vertical 5.9 million residual potential for leakage (4-6 LAK/yr on water from groundwater mm/d) from average. WS rainfall. coarse usage in  Farmer regolith and  The majority foothills west surveys lack of pond of of the indicate that base groundwater Mekong higher compaction. is contained floodplain. education within  Further  Research is correlated fractured testing of the underway to with higher sandstone groundwater identify income from aquifer system artificial aids cropping and beneath the beneath the for reducing off-farm Mekong Mekong leakage and activities. floodplain. improving alluvium is  At the village pond  Initial underway to level, crop operation observations enable better and livestock efficiency. indicate that estimates of income the aquifer recharge and  The total decreases beneath for income of significantly Sukumar groundwater farms with with distance district has modeling to ponds from the relatively high estimate exceeded major centre transmissivity sustainable that of farms due to rates and levels of without difficulty reasonable extraction. ponds by 1.7 accessing yields million Surface water markets. suggesting LAK/yr. potential as a resources Residual soil  ‘Land-water water source water ratio’ has a  A soil water eastern water depth saved water balance districts. after each without model has  Rainfall in irrgation) compromising been spatially Champassak compared to yield, and applied in and using 10% Savannakhet Savannakhet alternate indicated that and provinces wetting and AWD saved Champassak over the WS drying (AWD) on costs provinces to exceeds the (only 5 cm (money, input show the water field water and labour). typical length requirement depth).  Farmers of growing for WS rice in  Average reported season. most years, irrigation weeds as  In such that water input being a Savannakhet, residual soil (from problem in modelling water in most transplanting AWD crops if showed that years could to harvest) not carefully districts in contribute to ranged from controlled the south the water 11.4-13.5 after crop western part requirements ML/ha in establishment of the for short flooded rice, . province duration DS and was Alternative dry experienced non-rice significantly season crops longer crops. more than in growing  Work is AWD (8.8-  An seasons and progressing 10.2 ML/ha). assessment had higher to estimate  AWD systems of short coefficients of the amount saved 19- duration stored soil of residual 25% of water mungbean water than soil water compared to for use in those in the remaining flooded rice. southern Lao east. spatially  No significant PDR  In across these differences in commenced Champassak, zones and to rice yields in 2012, and modelling identify were demonstrated indicated that districts observed in rapid the western where flood irrigated development regions have sufficient soil crops (sowing to shorter water remain compared to mid- growing in the AWD crops, flowering) in seasons than majority of with the these in the east, years to exception of environments and studies sustain short observations within five of soil water duration DS in 2012 when weeks. content show crops. AWD crop  Further work less water in Alternate yields on short the profile in wetting and exceeded duration the western drying those of flood mungbean is regions in the irrigated progressing early WS  Lao farmers crops. to investigate indicating applied more  85% of AWD sowing greater water during demonstratio method, vulnerability each flood n farmers patterns of to drought irrigation (10 recognised water-use, than in cm field that AWD the requirement  In the 2012 On-station trials about 110- for irrigation, DS, none of for early and 115 days, and biomass the tested medium and height and yield eight lines maturing lines from around potential. out-yielded 95-105 cm. the check  Some Project 2 – Rice varieties; promising germplasm Submergence probably due early and drought Aerobic rice to significant maturing tolerance trials genotype by lines compare season favourably to  Progress on  IR78936-B-9- interaction the check germplasm B-B-B (for Chulsa, but improvement performed confirmation none out- is consistently in ongoing yield it summarised well across 2013 DS significantly; in Table 5 for seasons and trials). most were desired out-yielded quality for  Lines like tested for the the check rainfed IR04N155, first time in variety lowland IR06L164, the 2012 WS. Rumpe by 0.5 systems and IR73678- t/ha (12%  A number of exhibiting 6-9-B seem higher) on medium submergence to be much average maturing tolerance better than across lines out- carrying the the check seasons. yielded the Sub-1 gene IR504. check and/or On-farm trials varieties by drought for very early 10-22%; with tolerance. maturing lines duration varying from  In the 2012 WS, ten of 13  lines tested  across eight sites out-  Table 5: Improved germplasm with yielded IR504 desired quality for rainfed lowland systems (check 1; a exhibiting submergence tolerance carrying the Sub-1 gene and/or drought tolerance. widely adopted   Evaluation activity variety in Cambodia) by   F3 lines evaluated in the 2013 DS, and  Derived from 8 crosses made at CARDI in the 2011 WS. 11-23%, and S F4 in the 2013 WS. u two out- b  58 BC3-4F5-7 lines evaluated in the  Derived from PRD/CAR3 or CAR3/PRD selected after a yielded m 2012 WS in replicated trials under both screening under drought in the 2012 DS. Chulsa (check e aerobic and lowland conditions at r CARDI. 2) by 5-8%. g  Another 169 lines further evaluated in  Selected from the same BC populations after a year-long  Four lines e n 2013 WS. drought screening in 2012. out-yielded c 66 IRRI lines further screened for yield Selected on agronomic traits from a set of 202 Sub-1 gene check IR66 e   in the 2012 WS at CARDI. lines. by 10-12% a  Plant selection from 4 F2 populations  2 for improving drought tolerance of PRD (IR66/PRD, from the n performed in the 2012 WS. F3 lines PCSS/PRD), and 2 for improving lodging resistance of PRD medium d evaluated in the 2013 WS. (PRD/Riang Chey) and PCSS (PCSS/Riang Chey). maturing / o group across r five sites in the 2012 WS. d r  Project 3 trends in rice o – Rice establishment u g establish methods, h ment and agricultural t productiv machinery t ity o use, production l  CLEAR e constraints, spatial r cropping a database n systems, c  An updated rotations, e version 2 of land access  Notes: WS=wet season; DS=dry season; CLEAR and IRRI=International Rice Research Institute; (Cambodia productivity. CARDI=Cambodian Agricultural Research and Land Development Institute; F2(F3)(F4)=the  Australia second(third)(fourth) filial generation comprising Environment n trials offspring resulting from a cross of the members and of F1(F2)(F3) generation Resources)  Ten field  was released, trials including established  30 new across  information southern layers. NSW’s rice  CLEAR now growing has more region to than 500 investigate registered different users (free seeding and access at fertiliser rates http://clear.a in farmers’ where.com/Ho fields with mepage adverse soil .aspx until conditions, Feb 2014). including evaluation for  Farmer surveys low available soil zinc  Analysis levels. completed for  The response two of the to applying three study gibberellic provinces of acid (GA) to baseline rice in the survey data 2012 field from 450 trial was not farmers (in encouraging, three despite a provinces, positive three response for districts, the Doongara three variety in communes, earlier UQ three experiments. villages) on  Glasshouse current experiments practices, were availability on  Bio-physical extended to  Project 4 livelihoods. surveys of field trials in – farmers’ fields Irrigation  Best-practice the 2012-13 suggest that water or benchmark season at ten water/canal managem farmers for sites across ent specific infrastructure rice growing activities (e.g. and land region.  Socio- groundwater levelness (i.e. economic use) are access to and bio- being water and physical progressively ability to surveys identified in manage/contr ol it) play an  180 socio- each region important economic using data from both the role in rice household crop yield surveys bio-physical and socio- performance undertaken and the by CARDI in economic surveys. ability of Takeo farmers to province – in  Land grow multiple three districts levelling rice crops in (Koh Andeth, any given  The potential Angkor Borei, year. Kirivong) for land representing levelling in  Safe different Cambodia to topsoil farming increase cutting systems – for yields is depths detailed significant analysis of according to  Researchers rice farmers’ initial are activities, literature examining constraints reviews and the effect of and assessments cutting away opportunities. when topsoil on crop growth  Socio- combined with good and yield economic performance data is being management practices. over the linked to coming DS surveys on  Laser rice crop, infrastructure levelling with the aim , land size technologies of and land level are cost- establishing across 220 effective safe cutting geo- within the depths for referenced Cambodian different soils farming plots, context, and and the most which will should cost-effective provide a provide remediation unique significant options. database for economic  investigating benefits to the impacts rice of irrigation producers. water  Water of water for demonstratio availabilit rice growing ns of y and is currently optimum productiv sourced from management ity lakes and practice reservoirs. (BARI Masur  Water 6 and 7 availability is  Groundw cultivars, the main ater fungicidal factor limiting application to rice  Preliminary control productivity sampling for Stemphylium in the three groundwater blight and study usage and line sowing) districts, as quality were water surveys took conducted infrastructure place in across ten and Takeo districts on management province in plot sizes does not 2012 and in around 1.0 effectively early 2013 to ha. and efficiently look at distribute temporal  Lentil (BARI water variations. Masur 6) was throughout  Two long- relay sown the year; term into T. aman resulting in groundwater rice in three planting monitoring districts delays and sites have (Pabna, limiting the been Kushtia and amount of established Faridpur) crops grown. with farmers yielding 2.0- 1.3 t/ha  Study results in Toul compared to from model Sangkor and 1.1 t/ha for farmers show Ta Wi villages adjacent sole that DS rice, to monitor crop lentil when fluctuations in (sown around irrigated with pumping 2-3 weeks surface water wells and later). sources, seasonal could yield up water quality  The yield to 6.2 t/ha and yield. advantage of compared to relay sowing  Project 5 an average over sole – cropping was yield of 5.1 Introduct t/ha. attributed to ion of early  Water short establishment storage duration of the relay development, pulses sown crop where viable,  Lentil and to could project- increase  A total of 124 recommende water (20 BARI, 96 d disease security and DAE and management profitability, eight NGO) (water is not as only 6.3% on-farm an issue in cropping using five this cropping pattern to fungicides system). ‘widen the and three  The average window’ from spray yield of the rice side. schedules demonstratio  Late-sown T. were n plots of boro rice is conducted at optimum now in the three regional management field following stations practice lentil harvest (Joydepur, ranged from with lentil Ishurdi and 1.1-2.4 t/ha yield around Jessore) with an 50% less where a overall mean compared to susceptible of 1.5 t/ha, first year cultivar, and a 26.3% experimental BARImasur-1, average yield results. was used. advantage  An economic over analysis (of  Research on neighbouring inputs for rice Stemphylium farmers’ and lentil) will blight of lentil (control) be conducted confirmed the plots (with a after the disease as mean yield of T. boro rice seed-borne, 1.2 t/ha and harvest of the and found a range of 0.8- second year low viability 1.87 t/ha). of of conidia  Six super- experimentati from infected early lines on. lentil stubble. and two  Field trials to  Preliminary control screen for experimentati varieties were resistance to on relay sown Stemphylium demonstrated into T. aman blight were that a rice at conducted at temperature o Ishurdi, with two stations of 25 C low yields for (Ishurdi and coupled with super-early Jessore) on a more than lines (0.5-1.1 total of 21 70% humidity t/ha) lentil lines, of is effective in compared to which Stemphylium BARI Masur preliminary disease varieties results infection. (1.4-2.1 suggest that  t/ha). some lines  Lentil yielded are 0.5 t/ha in an significantly experiment less conducted at susceptible to Rajshahi, in disease than collaboration the checks. with BRRI, to  Trials on include lentil Stemphylium into a T. blight aman-boro management  Fungicide and management  For kharif 1  Bed planting spray trials (WS), the of mungbean schedule conducted at average yield gave the trials for Joydepur from the highest managing under the net cultivation of average seed Stemphylium house and in mungbean yield at blight the field. for 105 1.8-2.5 t/ha demonstrated demonstratio in that Secure®  Mungbea n plots (20 demonstratio (ai n BARI and 85 ns conducted DAE) ranged Fenamidone  In 2012 at Pabna and from 1.1-1.8 + Mancozeb) kharif 1 (WS), Jessore ® t/ha with an and Nativo on-farm trials followed by overall mean (ai of mungbean power-tiller of 1.5 t/ha Tebuconazole were operated and a 31.5% + conducted in seeders average yield Trifloxystobin six districts (PTOS) and, advantage 100) were by BARI and lastly, over effective in DAE for use farmers’ neighbouring some of insecticide practice. farmers’ environments (Imiaft, ai.  Farmers’ (control) , in addition Imidachloripd practice ® plots. to Rovral (ai ) to manage resulted in a Iprodion) as thrips and  BARI Mung 6 yield about the currently line sowing was the 40% lower recommende (30 cm x 7 highest compared to d fungicide. cm) against yielding bed planting  Fungicide and broadcasting cultivar in at both spray at 25 kg/ha. both years in locations and on-farm trials schedule  The seed 11-26% comparing trials suggest yield of lower five new that 7-10 day broadcast compared to varieties interval and line sown PTOS. (averaging spraying is plots was not  Four 1.9 t/ha in most significantly treatments 2012 and 1.6 effective different, were t/ha in 2011), following however, evaluated to and will be appearance weeding and control weeds used in future of the first harvesting is under bed demonstratio signs of easier with planting n activities. Stemphylium row crops. (mulching, blight.  BINA Mung 8  On-farm herbicide was the  Good disease adaptive trials application, second control of compared spading and highest lentil foot rot five new three-times yielding caused by varieties control cultivar Sclerotium (BARI Mung 5 weeding) (averaging rolfsii was and 6, BINA with resulting 1.7 t/ha in provided by Mung 5 and seed yield 2012 and 1.4 seed 8, and BU highest for t/ha in 2011). treatment Mung 4) for control with Provex the second weeding at ® 200TM (ai experimental 1.6 t/ha, and Carbonix + year in five herbicide Thiram) in districts. application and spading greatest a second also proving efficacy, yield year. economically and economic  viable. benefit in line  PTOS proved with 2012 highest for experimental both seed results. and economic  Useful yield in an variation in evaluation disease comparing reaction to farmers’ both practice (two Cercospora ploughings leaf spot with power (CLS) and tiller) with yellow mosaic five sowing virus (YMV) techniques was observed (cultivator + among line sowing advanced manually lines in within furrow second year and on-station laddering; evaluations at cultivator + Barisal, line sowing Joydebpur manually and within furrow Madaripur of and laddering 15 advanced followed by lines, mulching with susceptible wheat straw; check surface (BARI Mung seeding + 4) and high Rotivator yielding check ploughing; (BARI Mung surface 6). seeding +  Five one fungicides for laddering; CLS and five and PTOS different seeding after combinations wheat). of insecticides  Six for YMV (to combinations protect of insecticides against the were tested vector on-station at whitefly Ishurdi for Bemisia mungbean tabaci) were pest control evaluated on- with station at Imidachloripi Barisal and d treatment Joydebpur for having the  The 2012 trial date; and rolfsii), rust website confirmed sole sown at (Uromyces concludes in last year’s optimum fabae) and Feb 2014, results of date). YMV diseases after which in the project access is Cercospora  Natore local 2 area. dependent leaf spot realised upon the scoring similar seed  A survey of outcome of lowest with yields across insects negotiations fungicide all identified the between Secure treatments, presence of ® ACIAR, 600WG while Natore aphids (Aphis aWhere and treatment at local 1 spp.), thrips Aruna both sites yielded (Thysanopter (project 3). and YMV highest in a spp.) and scoring relay sowing. pod borer  Farmer lowest with (Heliothis management  Preliminary the combined spp.) with of field sites results for Furadan® + disease (e.g. BARI Admire® incidence and permanent Motorsuti 3 treatment. severity water produced greatest at management, yields of only  Pea the seedling duck control) 0.5 t/ha and and the is challenging  An on–station 1.5 t/ha, podding in Australia experiment respectively, stages of (project 3). demonstrated when sole plant growth. pea (green sown at relay  Household pod) yield of sowing date  Challenge surveys now 2.2-3.1 t/ha and when s to focus on after long sole sown at project Takeo and short optimum delivery province only duration rice date, and did (in line with varieties, not survive  ‘Rice-Check’ CAVAC) which when relay proved across three compares sown into unsuitable for agro- with pea yield standing T. smallholder ecological in the first aman rice. rice farming zones; the experimental and is no total number  A survey of year. longer being of surveys diseases on applied; it  Significant remains the pea identified was yield same (project powdery continued to differences 4). mildew a limited were  ‘Case studies (Oidium spp., extent under observed in of success’ and Erysiphe irrigation only evaluations of that feature polygoni), in the 2010- ten selected benchmark anthracnose 11 DS, and pea farmers and (Colletotrichu the 2011 WS genotypes irrigation m spp.), leaf and DS under three areas are spot (project 1). different (Cercospora behind environments spp.), wilt  Free access schedule due (relay sown and foot rot to the CLEAR to delays in into standing (Fusarium spatial completing T. aman rice; oxysporum database and analysing sole sown at and through the the farmer relay sowing Sclerotium aWhere surveys (project 4).  



 Harvesting mungbeans, Bangladesh [Imran Malik, UWA] for export expansion to other provinces  Improve livestock and to Vietnam.  The program aims to improve livestock production by integrating animals more effectively with rice- based farming systems.

 Approach

 Livestock production is highly dependent upon feed sourced from crops – grains and tubers, stover, green forage, and processing by- products – together with weeds within and beside crops. The transformation of poor farmers from livestock keepers to active market- oriented producers will require improvements in livestock reproduction and nutrition coupled with better access to markets.

 Contributors

 Project 1 is the only project in the portfolio with a core focus on livestock improvement.

 Key messages 2012-13

 Market chains

 A study of marketing chains in Savannakhet province for rice, large ruminants and pigs, involving interviews with 136 people, was completed in Sep 2011.  Rice, large ruminants and pigs play an important role in the economic activities for farmers in the study area.  Farmers perceive pigs as the household’s cashflow and large ruminants as its savings, such that livestock are raised without consideration of market demand.  No formal horizontal and vertical linkages exist between actors in the marketing chains for large ruminants or pigs in study districts, such that better integration could enhance supply quality and quantity, as well as prices received by farmers.  Opportunity exists to increase the income of livestock producers as the study area is geographically positioned  The livestock marketing chain is mainly constrained by the supply of local variety (native, unimproved) animals reared by farmers.

 Livestock integration

 Trials were conducted to identify suitable germplasm for fodder production in difficult environmental conditions; with many of the regionally- available varieties tested found to be only partly suitable.  Paspalum atratum and Panicum maximum ‘Mombasa’ gave good results on better soils in flood-prone or waterlogged conditions.  Mulato 2 established well in areas of moderate soil acidity and nutrient availability, and persisted well in the DS.  Cayman, as one of the newer varieties, showed promising results under waterlogging on very poor soils.  Some new Brachiaria brizantha and B. humidicola varieties were tested and showed some interesting traits, such as silkiness (leaf texture and palatability for livestock) and weed suppression potential, but could not compete in terms of yields with released materials.  Post-rice forage options to be grown on residual moisture in the soil were considered and tested.  Lablab purpureus, with its fast life cycle, was among the best materials, especially when small amounts of supplementary irrigation were available.  Establishment of post-rice pastures from planting material was considered, and is promising if low levels of water supplementation can be provided, subject to labour and water availability constraints.  By early 2013, nine farmers in six villages in four districts have initiated systems change, keeping at least some of their animals penned, and fattening them with forages and higher quality crop by-products such as maize stover.  Student on-farm work showed that their   Challenges to project delivery animals gained at least 15 kg per month during the DS, while control animals,  Several drawbacks marked efforts to kept in the traditional way, lost weight; undertake an on-farm participatory this increased weight led to a 40-45% approach to test a variety of materials increase in farm gate price, in the case under local conditions, including of two farmers who intended to sell extreme weather events and farmer their animals. attitudes about system requirements.  These pioneer farmers are seen as  From an initial 121 farmers expressing centres of innovation around which interest in 2010, only 37 had other farmers may adopt new methods established plots by 2011, of which and technologies. none were used (due mainly to  insufficient follow-up by district staff).   Students were engaged to work in pairs with selected farmers in the target villages on improving forage and livestock systems as a strategy to overcome low farmer participation rates.      

  General Directorate of Agriculture researcher trialing a two-wheeled tractor and seed drill [Scott Justice, IMWIC]    Strengthen policy Bangladesh, and seeking evidence of their current and likely future  The program aims to strengthen impacts. policy settings by improving understanding of the linkages with and impacts on food security.

 Approach

 Food security is affected by the mix of policy settings at local to international scales. Achieving more productive and sustainable rice- based farming systems will necessitate better understanding of and integration across formal and informal policies, especially in the arenas of agricultural industry and trade, land and water resources management, agricultural extension systems, and marketing systems for rice and related products.

 Contributors

 Project 1 contributes to this strategy primarily through analysing alternative policy settings (using farm survey data, including social and economic metrics) to remove bottlenecks and facilitate opportunities that improve farming systems and rural livelihoods.  Project 6(a) contributes to this strategy primarily through reviewing key national government policies and programs affecting the development of rice-based farming systems in Bangladesh, Cambodia and Lao PDR, and seeking evidence of their current and likely future impacts. This project led to project 6(b).  Project 6(b) contributes to this strategy, in the case of Cambodia and Lao PDR, primarily through analysing policies (strategies, processes and settings), using case studies to demonstrate policy benefits, examining regional policy trends and cross-border implications.  Project 6(c) contributes to this strategy primarily through reviewing key national government policies and programs affecting the development of rice-based farming systems in  Key messages 2012-13  Marketing chains

 Project 1 – Farming and  Marketing chains for rice in study marketing systems districts have no formal horizontal and vertical linkages between actors, such  Household typology that supply quality/quantity and prices  Working Paper #1, entitled ‘Developing for farmers could improve significantly a typology of farming systems in with greater integration. southern Laos’ outlines a summary of  Water and hydrology technical and policy options.  The water and hydrology research  Economic analysis component has produced important  New technologies have been important information (e.g. inventories, water in helping households meet self- saving methods, etc) for informing sufficiency objectives and have enabled water-related public policy. some to produce a small surplus.  Project 6(b) – Agricultural  Budget models show that households in policies, the rainfed lowlands have been rational Lao PDR & Cambodia in adopting a low-input system rather than intensifying rice production to  An Inception Workshop in Lao PDR in achieve government yield and Aug 2011 identified two phases for the production targets. research conduct:  The strategy of diversifying livelihoods o Phase 1: Rice policies in Cambodia while maintaining a largely subsistence- and Lao PDR (in the context of oriented rice production system is likely Thailand and Vietnam), and; to persist. o Phase 2: Policies regarding  Improving the efficiency of fertiliser agribusiness investment and contract application is more important than farming for non-rice crops (maize, increasing absolute fertiliser rates. sugarcane, cassava, rubber, etc.); and policies regarding livestock Development and adoption of  production and trade (cattle, technologies that enable households to buffaloes, etc.). achieve self-sufficiency in a labour- efficient manner are important to  Opportunity exists to make a significant improving household welfare. contribution to rice policy, especially in Lao PDR, where the government is Technologies that improve labour  undergoing a major review of rice policy productivity and enable labour to move in 2012. off-farm are likely to be adopted more readily than technologies that seek to  Two case studies are underway in intensify production. Cambodia focused on livestock (with fieldwork in Jul 2013) and on extension Development and adoption of improved  (with additional fieldwork in Jul-Aug varieties that are well adapted to abiotic 2013). and biotic stresses and reduce risk in specific environments can potentially  Fieldwork is in-progress for two case improve the profitability and stability of studies in Lao PDR examining the cattle the lowland farming system. trade in Xiengkhouang (bordering Vietnam) and maize production and Modelling indicates that it is beneficial  trade (bordering Thailand). less than half the time to move further to the ‘medium-input’ scenario, while  Also in Lao PDR, two reviews are under the ‘high-input’ scenario did not stand development on rice policies, and on up in the risky environment of the seed and fertiliser production and rainfed lowlands. supply systems.  An overview of rice policy in Thailand is scheduled for completion by Jul 2013.  A review has been drafted on the role  Challenges remain for development of of farmer organisations in Thailand, and drought and salinity tolerant varieties, case studies about farmer organisations short-maturing varieties with lower and fertiliser trade are expected to be water requirements, as well as future completed by Aug 2013. climate-proofed varieties with higher  A monograph on case studies temperature tolerance (e.g. rice, examining machinery, fertiliser and wheat). credit in north-east Thailand will be  Bangladesh has developed more than drafted by Aug 2013. 30 pulse varieties with high yield  In Vietnam, two reviews are under potential and adaptability to a range of development on contract farming for environmental conditions. promoting local production (based on  Challenges remain for short-maturing Hmong cattle and indigenous pulse varieties between two rice crops, vegetables), and on quality and food and for adaptability to stresses caused safety management in value chains by variable weather conditions, such as (based on safe vegetables and meat winter severity and high fog incidence. value chains).  Prospects for pulse crops in Bangladesh  Also in Vietnam, fieldwork is scheduled are constrained by their lower financial for Jul-Sep 2013 for case studies on attractiveness to farmers relative to diversification of maize-based farming other crops, notably maize and boro system in Son La and on Viet-Lao rice. border value chain in the north-west (maize and cattle).  Water productivity  Project 6(c) – Policy constraints,  Rice WP in Bangladesh is low by Bangladesh international standards (much moreso for kharif rice WP than for rabi rice WP).  Food security  Technological diffusion was the key  Bangladesh has achieved near self- factor explaining inter-district WP sufficeincy in food grains by increasing differences; the impact of agricultural production, and reducing import intensification on WP for rabi (DS) and dependence on rice and wheat. kharif (WS) crops was, respectively,  Bangladesh is gradually transforming positive and negative. from mainly semi-subsistence  Rabi and overall WPs were lower in agriculture to a growing commercial salinity- and drought-prone districts, agricultural sector and a booming value which represent 33% of Bangladesh’s chain industry. net cropped area (NCA).  Key challenges remain regarding  In 90% of Bangladesh’s NCA districts, increasing import dependence for non- WP improvements resulted from cereals, such as pulses and edible oils. technological diffusion; there was a  Fair returns for growers are not likely to causal relationship between be realised in the forseeable future. groundwater depth and irrigation in 60% of the NCA.  Growing demand among the urban middle class is anticipated to drive  Despite significant potential to increase private sector-led value chain industry WP, increasing dependence on development. groundwater appears unsustainable.  Widespread diffusion of high yielding  Rice and pulse research varieties in the kharif season, and  Bangladesh has made significant development of salinity- and drought- progress in varietal development and tolerant rice varieties, have the grain quality for widespread adoption in potential to considerably improve rice a range of agro-ecological zones, but WP. moreso for rabi (DS) than for kharif (WS).  Farm-level adaptation to climate change  Data analysis on farm-level adaptation to climate change in drought-prone areas is based on surveys with 1800 farmer households from eight districts in northern and eastern Bangladesh.  The incidence of climate change is supported by farmers’ perceptions of weather pattern changes (increasingly higher temperatures and lower rainfall).  Farm-level adaptation to ameliorate the adverse effects of climate change typically comprise strategies that are science-driven (e.g. short-maturing and drought-tolerant rice), environmental resource-depleting (e.g. increased incidence of groundwater use) and crop-switching (e.g. lower water-use non-rice rabi crops).  Significant factors underpinning adaptation decisions/strategies were found to be drought severity, extent of groundwater depletion, education level, farm size, access to climate information, access to electricity for irrigation, and agricultural subsidy.  Major barriers to farm-level adaptation barriers were inadequate access to climate change information and scientific research outcomes, limited irrigation facilities, and resource base.  An enabling environment for farm-level adaptation to climate change in areas that suffer from economic and physical water scarcity could be created through strengthening agricultural research and support services, and providing expanded and improved surface water irrigation infrastructure.  Science-driven adaptation measures with stronger support systems appear more sustainable.

 Challenges to project delivery

 Project 6(c) concluded in Sep 2012, and recommended investment in a larger- scale phase 2 project.  Build capacity  876 farmers were directly involved in demonstration programs conducted by  The program aims to build capacity BARI, DAE and NGOs and used improved of individuals and institutions by technologies on their crops under the establishing effective collaborative direct supervision of departmental staff relationships and facilitating (project 5). knowledge sharing.  Equipment  Approach  Five pairs of groundwater observation  Effective and lasting results for food wells (at 80-120 m and 25-35 m) were security will depend upon developing installed in a transect across the Mekong strong in-country capacity for alluvium from Boung Keo in the east and framing, conducting and extending adjacent to the Mekong River, to Hiang R&D. This capacity extends from in the west on the lower slopes of the individual researchers to the broader foothills associated with the Thailand institutional arrangements. The border (project 1). principal mechanism for capacity  All instruments are installed and building is through partnering of operational in Cambodia (a small sample Australian and in-country institutions polisher, a spectrophotometer for to jointly deliver project outcomes. analysis of amylose, and an instrument  Contributors for physical quality) (project 2).  All projects.  All planned importations of machinery have now been achieved (project 3).  Key messages 2012-13  The CARDI Thai seeder was modified for  Overarching Cambodia with input from CARDI agricultural engineering staff  Eight ‘focal villages’ based on agro- (project 3). economic typologies will be used as hubs for technology integration, capacity  Local modifications were made to the building, knowledge sharing and out- hydrotiller to make it more suitable for scaling (project 1). Cambodian conditions, especially to allow easier transport between  CARDI has the capacity to keep track of locations/fields (project 3). the performance of its equipment with the ring tests and proficiency tests  The modified Thai seeder (Cambo-Thai carried out by the International Network seeder) was tested by CARDI during the for Quality Rice (INQR), of which it is a 2012 DS, and made available to other member (project 2). ACIAR projects for experimentation and feedback (project 3).  8250 people are estimated to have accessed improved agricultural  BVB Machinery Trading Co. Ltd is technologies (project 3). importing and promoting Thai rice drills for two-wheeled tractors in Cambodia  Capacity building in knowledge of rice (project 3). weeds and potential herbicides has been undertaken at national/ provincial level  Limit plot drills (cone seeders) have been (project 3). imported from India, and will be tested in CARDI’s rice breeding program in the  The number of farmers exposed to 2013 WS (project 3). project technologies has dramatically increased with the inclusion of DAE in  The project is procuring an additional demonstrations (project 5). laser bucket and equipment for hire/loan to private contractors (farmers) for trial  5000 farmers and 250 extension officers before they invest in the technology have accessed improved lentil and (project 4). mungbean technologies through field days and training organised by BARI,  The laser bucket for hire/loan will be DAE and NGOs (project 5). fitted with a project-designed independent oil cooling system, which  Two training workshops held in overcomes the problem of their use on Outhomphone and Phin districts on the multiple tractors and allows the establishment of and data collection technology to be more readily from demonstration sites with 41 PAFO, demonstrated to and adopted by farmers DAFO, farmers and others (project 1). (project 4).  Training in fundamental professional  CARDI’s atomic adsorption skills (e.g. microsoft office, data spectrophotometer (AAS) was management, statistics, etc) with 35 successfully calibrated for potassium, PAFO, DAFO and others (project 1). and sourcing of the correct lamps will  A workshop with CARDI, GDA and enable analysis for sodium, magnesium CAVAC officials and researchers and calcium (project 4). discussed the project’s new germplasm  Training and workshops materials (14 Aug 2012) (project 2).  PDAs (in Takeo, Kampot, Kampong  Training on rapid market survey with Thom, Kampong Speu and Prey Veng twelve Provincial Agricultural Field provinces) were trained and resourced to Officers (PAFOs) and District Agricultural conduct on-station and on-farm trials in Field Officers (DAFOs) from Savannakhet both the DS and WS during the reporting and Champassak provinces (1-5 Oct period (project 2). 2012) (project 1).  GDA, CARDI and PDA project staff were  Technical training at the International trained in farmer participatory variety Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT) in selection (project 2). Cali, Colombia, for Mr Souksamlane  Half-day training on rice breeding and Khamphoume on forages, silage, farming cultivation for 29 national trainers from systems and research approaches PDA, RUA and three NGOs (Jun 2012) (1 Oct-21 Dec 2012) (project 1). (project 2).  Farmer training and cross visit on forage  A one-day workshop on the Northern maintenance at a biological station in Australian Rice Project was held in Naphokham (Savannakhet province), Darwin (NT) with more than 18 including yield measurements and delegates, including commercial growers quality assessment (2 Oct 2012) (project 2). (project 1).  CARDI staff training by IRRI on  Training students in irrigation equipment operation for measuring measurements, Savannakhet physical grain traits (Aug 2012) and on (27-29 Nov 2012) (project 1). molecular biology protocols (Oct 2012)  Training in integration and technical (project 2). skills for DS activities took place in  CARDI staff training on managing Outhomphone district with 50 PAFO, breeding nurseries and individual plant DAFO, farmers and others, including ten selection from segregating populations women (27-29 Nov 2012) (project 1). (project 2).  A 10-day DAFO staff training tour to  In 2012, training on the use of the Thailand on livestock production and CLEAR spatial database has been research facilities (20 Feb-3 Mar 2013) provided by Aruna to an additional 152 (project 1). people (project 3).  Training on data analysis methods for  In 2012-13, training in the assembly, use value chain study with six NUoL staff and and maintenance of Thai and Chinese four NAFRI staff (18-22 Mar 2013) two-wheeled tractors and seed drills has (project 1). been provided for staff from all  Intensive training for PAFO livestock collaborating partners and other contact staff in livestock and forage projects, together with the RoGro® management at Khon Kaen University, seeder, Thai seeder, Cambo-Thai seeder Thailand (18 Mar-28 Apr 2013) (modified Thai seeder), Chinese RoGro® (project 1). seeder and hydrotillers (including relay sowing, and disease and (project 3). weed management) (project 5).  Crawford Fund training was awarded to  A week-long course on ‘Disease two project collaborators to visit rice epidemiology and disease forecasting’, growing areas of southern NSW, was organised at BARI with outside including presenting on rice growing in funding to develop, test and apply Cambodia to NSW DPI staff (Oct 2012) disease forecasting models (project 5). (project 3).  Workshops for scientists and personnel  Workshops and training on laser levelling directly involved in implementing have been provided for MOWRAM-TSC activities for the rabi (DS) pulse program and CARDI staff, including in conjunction were held at Jessore (11 Oct 2012) and with field demonstrations in villages at Rajshahi (17 Oct 2012) (project 5). (project 4).  A combined travelling workshop  Training of in-country partners on the (9-20 Feb 2013) and progress meeting use and construction of low cost water (19 Feb 2013), comprising BARI, IRRI’s measurement devices made of PVC pulse project coordinator and UWA, was (polyvinyl chloride), known as circular designed to monitor field activities and flumes, has been provided to expand the to discuss project progress and future ability to benchmark WP across directions (project 5). provinces and districts at a wider scale (project 4).  Participatory field work, field days and visits  Up-skilling project partners has continued in the use of micro-  Cross-site visits took place in nine meteorology and lysimetry equipment for districts with PAFOs, DAFOs and farmers, rice crop water-use studies variously addressing vegetable (project 4). marketing, lowland varietal selection and  CARDI staff have been trained by CSIRO best-management practices (BMPs), on the use and calibration of the AAS for upland rice varieties, direct-seeding, measuring a range of parameters related commercial sweet corn production, to the project’s groundwater component improved smallholder production (project 4). systems, and crop establishment methods, water management and DS  Three undergraduate students from ITC cropping have been involved in the rice water-use (project 1). trials and have completed their theses (project 4).  Farmer field schools in Apr 2012 on ‘How to identify good rice varieties’ (Prey Veng  A further three students have and Svay Rieng provinces) attended by commenced studentships and have hundreds of farmers (project 2). participated in the 2012-13 DS rice water-use monitoring activities at CARDI  Farmer field schools and farmer field (project 4). days held by CARDI and GDA have exposed farmers to new rice crop  Agreement has been reached with the establishment techniques, weed control Adaptation to Climate Change in Asia options, and the benefits of fertiliser (ACCA) project (ACIAR project no. application and timing (project 3). LWR/2008/019) to hold a training session on APSIM-ORYZA in Phnom Penh  GDA conducted nine farmer field schools (project 4). in the 2012 DS with 246 farmers (117 women) in Kampong Thom province,  360 farmers and 40 DAE Sub-Assistant and ten in the 2012 WS with 272 Agriculture Officers (SAAOs) participated farmers (139 women) in Kampong in training programs delivered in 20 Thom, Takeo and Kampot provinces locations in the lentil and pea growing (project 3). regions of Ishurdi, Jessore and Raj Bari to demonstrate best cultivation methods  Field demonstrations and training by MOWRAM-TSC and CARDI on levelling and water management have reached around 300 irrigation households over been produced by IRRI and NAFRI in this reporting period (project 4). English and Lao, and has been  Field days and demonstrations have disseminated to villages in target been hosted by best-practice farmers districts (100 copies) (project 1). (for specific activities like groundwater  The production of ‘client tailored’ use) identified from bio-physical and extension material, focusing on the ways socio-economic surveys (project 4). in which farmers’ perceive problems and  3000 rabi (DS) farmers participated in 30 solutions, will be a major activity for the field days organised by BARI, DAE and final stage of the research (project 1). PROVA (an NGO) on local cultivation and  Khmer language publications have been management practice and to used for farmer field schools, training of demonstrate recommended cultivation agricultural technicians and extension procedures (project 5). workers, and lecturing in agricultural  1830 mungbean farmers participated in schools and university, as well as a total of 22 field days organised by distributed to all PDAs and relevant BARI, DAE and NGOs on mungbean organisations (project 3). cultivation methods, sowing techniques,  CARDI and IRRI have produced a Khmer pest management and weed control version of ‘A practical field guide to (project 5). weeds of rice in Asia’ (Caton, Mortimer,  An educational tour to Nepal and India Hill and Johnson, 2012), which will be was organised for two DAE personnel, made available to rice herbicide resellers, and two BARI scientists along with IRRI’s researchers and farmers (project 3). pulse project coordinator in  Training modules in Khmer have been Mar 2013 (project 5). developed on the drum seeder, RoGro® ®  To strengthen co-operation between seeder, RoGro calibration, weed Bangladesh and Australia, a visit to management, safe herbicide use and UWA, CSIRO and DAFWA was calibration of sprayers (project 3). undertaken by IRRI’s Bangladesh  Weed identification and management representative, Rice-Pulses Project guidelines have been made available on Coordinator-Bangladesh, and BARI’s the internet (project 3). Director-General (project 5).  Technical information sheets developed  Progress monitoring of activities for the for private entrepreneurs on fertilisers, 2013 rabi (DS) involved UWA herbicides, pumps and machinery representatives visiting field sites (30 (project 3). Oct–17 Nov 2012) to discuss progress  Best-practice guidelines for water with scientists and farmers (project 5). management are under development for  Extension and other materials delivery through CAVAC (project 4).  Training materials on laser levelling have  A project brochure and summary have been developed by CARDI, and have been developed for translation into Lao been used for both farmer and and distribution to participants and MOWRAM-TSC training activities interested parties (project 1). (project 4).  A 16-page instruction booklet on BMP  MOWRAM-TSC will further develop has been developed, in particular by CARDI’s training materials on laser IRRI and NAFRI, which is being levelling to create a module for their translated into Lao for distribution to training courses (project 4). farmers (project 1).  MOWRAM-TSC has developed a brochure  A poster in Lao summarising BMP steps explaining the benefits of laser levelling (developed by IRRI) has been (improved water management, weed disseminated to villages in target control, direct broadcasting) (project 4). districts (150 copies) (project 1).  An online package on laser levelling is  A poster on BMP for the submergent under development that will comprise tolerant rice variety TDK1 Sub-1 has design information, training materials and advise on how to access equipment (project 4).  o ‘Rice marketing value chain: A case  Technical publications study of Takeo province’, Vol 17,  A full set of experimental protocols has Issue 2, Jun 2013. been produced by NAFRI in English and  Three articles on WP and on farm-level Lao (project 1). adaptation to climate change have been  A full inventory of experiments, data submitted to refereed journals, and a returns, analyses and reports was further overview paper on Bangladesh’s compiled by CSU in mid-2012 preparedness for climate change nears (project 1). completion (project 6c).  Working Paper #1, entitled ‘Developing a  An ACIAR technical report synthesising typology of farming systems in southern the project’s activities and findings Laos’ (project 1). (project 6c).  A paper for the Government of Lao  Collaborations and networks PDR’s water policy division is under development on water availability in  Activities in the provinces have been Soukumar district of Champasak strengthened by co-location of province (project 1). experienced national and international staff, notably a Research Fellow in  A Special Issue of the NAFRI journal for Knowledge Sharing (in Savannakhet), a its Nov edition is under development Postdoctoral Fellow in Hydrology/Water (project 1). supported by a NAFRI Research Officer  A practical field guide to weeds of rice in and an AVID volunteer in Knowledge Asia published in Khmer by IRRI in 2012 Sharing (in Champassak) (project 1). (project 3).  External links have been forged with  A technical report (CSIRO Science Report projects (e.g. ACIAR’s Climate Change No. 07/2013) combines the project’s rice project, ADB-IFAD SNRMPEP, ADB water-use studies in Cambodia with a Smallholder Development Project), literature review of rice WP in private companies (e.g. Birla Lao, Theun neighbouring countries (project 4). Hinboun Power Company, Happy  An article based on CSRIO Science Farmers seed company), NGOs, Report 07/2013 is planned for educational providers (e.g. Savannakhet publication in the journal Paddy and University, Na-Keh Agricultural College) Water Environment (project 4). and the AusAID-funded AVID program  A joint report by MOWRAM-TSC and (project 1). CARDI has been drafted on the socio-  Identified elite lines will be extended to economic survey results from 180 more farmers through ongoing households in the districts of Koh collaboration with an IFAD project Andeth, Angkor Borei and Kirivong ‘Project for Agriculture, Development (project 4). and Economic Empowerment’ (2012-18)  Three theses have been completed by (project 2). ITC undergraduate students involved in  Interactions with 180 households as part the project’s rice water-use trials of the socio-economic survey, which (project 4). introduced irrigation farmers to the  Articles published in Cambodia project and collected background data Development Review (project 6b): on their irrigation businesses and systems (project 4). o ‘Credit for rice farmers: A study in  Networking with local authorities (village Takeo province’, Vol 16, Issue 3, and commune leaders) as part of the Oct 2012; bio-physical land surveys and o ‘Fertiliser value chains in Cambodia: A establishment of monitoring sites case study in Takeo province’, (project 4). Vol 16, Issue 4, Dec 2012; and  A Project Advisory Group (PAG) was formed in 2012, comprising two senior government policy-makers in Lao PDR and two in Cambodia (project 6b).   Several press releases about the project  Meetings, conferences and reported in local newspapers in Vientiane presentations and the provinces (project 1).  All projects participated in ACIAR’s mid-  Project-recommended technology has term technical workshop for the RSR been highlighted in local electronic and program in Vientiane, Lao PDR, print media (project 5). 13-15 Jun 2012.  Challenges to project delivery  Project results and breeding strategy were reported at the ‘Cambodia Rice  The project has shifted from developing Research Forum’ on 1 May 2012 six key demonstration sites, as an (project 2). outreach tool for integrating and  ‘Economic assessment of mechanisation showcasing project research findings, to in Cambodian lowland rice ecosystems of the concept of ‘focal villages’ as sites Takeo’ presented at the 57th AARES that represent the major socio-economic annual conference, Sydney, NSW, typologies (project 1). 5-9 Feb 2013 (project 3).  There is a need to expand and repeat  Presentation made to Australia’s Rural machinery training (e.g. hydrotillers) for Industries Research and Development provincial staff who undertake field Corporation (RIRDC) Rice Research experiments and for co-operating Committee, Wagga Wagga, NSW, farmers in hands-on operation of Nov 2012 (project 3). machinery (project 3).  Presentation made to a research and  Khmer manuals need to be developed on extension meeting at NSW DPI, Yanco, Chinese drills and limit plot drills Aug 2012 (project 3). (project 3).  ‘Is zinc an issue?’ presented by Geoff  Plastic seed cup mechanisms in the ® Beecher at rice pre-season meetings in RoGro seed drill are subject to sunlight Deniliquin, Yanco, Benerembah, Wakool, damage arising from poor Finley, Hanwood and Coleambally, construction/materials (project 3). Aug-Sep 2012 (project 3).  Opportunities need exploration for  Conference presentation entitled ‘Rice raising knowledge and awareness in water use productivity in Cambodia’ by target provinces about flat fan nozzles, Evan Christen and Seng Vang, Vientiane, mini spray booms, and occupational Jun 2012 (project 4). health and safety (OHS) (project 3).  The annual project workshop was held  Building capacity in groundwater on 3-5 Sep 2012 at BARI, Joydebpur monitoring is a priority, as most research (project 5). partners have had no exposure to monitoring techniques, and groundwater  Two scientists presented project work at management is a key emerging issue a scientific forum as part of a (project 4). Bangladesh-Australia cooperation visit (project 5).  Materials for training and communication about potential interventions in the value  Dr Omar Ali, BARI-PRC principal scientific chain for land levelling have been officer, presented a poster at the 1st progressed, but not for improved early Asian Food Security Association (AFSA) season water management and fertiliser Conference on ‘Food Safety and Food management (project 4). Security’, Osaka, Japan, 15-17 Sep 2012 (project 5).  Equipment availability for hire/loan is critically important to the wide-scale  Dr Imran Malik presented a poster at the adoption of the laser levelling technology Japan-Australia Symposium, ‘Plant (project 4). Sciences for Agriculture IV’, Murdoch University, WA, Dec 2012 (project 5).  Operating the AAS has proven challenging due to problems with reliable  Media and press releases compressed air supplies and unreliable power, which lead to the extraction hood and air supply turning on and off periodically (project 4).   Acronyms and abbreviations  aciar.gov.au

 3G Third generation (of mobile  telephony)  AAS Atomic adsorption  spectrophotometer  ACIAR Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research  ADB Asian Development Bank  APSIM Agricultural Production Systems SIMulator  AusAID Australian Agency for International Development  AVID Australian Volunteers for International Development  AWD Alternate wetting and drying  AWS Automatic weather station  BARI Bangladesh Agricultural Research Institute  BMP Best-management practice  BRRI Bangladesh Rice Research Institute  CARDI Cambodian Agricultural Research and Development Institute  CAVAC Cambodia Agriculture Value Chain  CLEAR Cambodia Land and Environment Atlas and Resource  CLS Cercospora leaf spot  CSIRO Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation  CSU Charles Sturt University (Australia)  DAE Department of Agricultural Extension (Bangladesh)  DAFO District Agricultural Field Officer  DAFWA Department of Agriculture and Food Western Australia  DPI (NSW) Department of Primary Industries (Australia)  DS Dry season

 Further information

 Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR)  38 Thynne Street, Fern Hill Park Bruce ACT Australia GPO Box 1571 Canberra ACT 2601 Australia  P: +61 2 6217 0500 F: +61 2 6217 0501 E: [email protected]  dS m-1 deciSiemens per metre  TSC Technical Service Center (Cambodia)  F6 The sixth filial generation comprising offspring resulting from a  UQ University of Queensland cross of the members of F5 generation (Australia)  GDA General Directorate of Agriculture  USAID United States Agency for (Cambodia) International Development  GPRS General packet radio service  UWA University of Western Australia  ha Hectare  WA Western Australia  ICE Integrated cropping experiment  WP Water productivity  IFAD International Fund for Agricultural  WS Wet season Development (United Kingdom)  YMV Yellow mosaic virus  IMWIC International Maize and Wheat Improvement Center   INQR International Network for Quality Rice  IRRI International Rice Research Institute  ITC Institute of Technology of Cambodia  LAK Laotian Kip  MOWRAM Ministry of Water Resources and Meteorology (Cambodia)  N-P-K Nitrogen-phosphorus-potassium  NAFRI National Agriculture and Forestry Research Institute (Lao PDR)  NCA Net cropped area  NGO Non-government organisation  NSW New South Wales (Australia)  NT Northern Territory (Australia)  NUoL National University of Laos  ORYZA A rice model  PAFO Provincial Agricultural Field Officer  PDA Provincial Department of Agriculture (Cambodia)  PDR (Lao) People’s Democratic Republic  PRC Pulses Research Centre (Bangladesh)  PTOS Power-tiller operated seeders  QLD Queensland (Australia)  RSR Rice-based Systems Research  RUA Royal University of Agriculture (Cambodia)  SNRMPEP Sustainable Natural Resource Management and Productivity Enhancement Program  Sub-1 The Sub-1 gene enables rice to resume growth and development after up to 14 days of submergence  t/ha Tonnes per hectare

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