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BRIEF REPORT

NATIONAL REVIEW & PLANNING WORKSHOP Sustaining and Enhancing the Momentum for Innovation and Learning around the System of Rice Intensification in the Lower Mekong River Basin (SRI-LMB)

Venue: La Parranda Hotel ABOUT THE WORKSHOP , Cambodia The Cambodian National IPM Programme Date: 28-29 May 2015 organized a National Review and Planning Workshop on 28th - 29th May 2015 at La Parranda BACKGROUND hotel, Phnom Penh (see Annex 1).

The AIT led, FAO and Oxfam partnered, EU-financed project The National Review and Planning Workshop was entitled: “Sustaining and Enhancing the Momentum for Innovation and Learning around the System of Rice participated by 50 persons (14 women) including Intensification (SRI) in the Lower Mekong River Basin” aims Ms. Chan Phaloeun, Deputy Director of General to contribute to enhanced resilience of rainfed rice farming Directorate of Agriculture (GDA), Mr. Ngin Chhay, systems involving small-scale farmers confronting climate Director of Department of Rice Crop (DRC), Dr. change in the Lower Mekong region (LMB) countries Prabhat Kumar, Regional Coordinator SRI-LMB (Cambodia, Lao PDR, Thailand, and Vietnam). Participatory Project, Mr. Kong Kea, Project Management Unit Action Research (PAR) utilizing Farmers’ Field School (FFS) platforms will be used to develop location specific low cost (PMU), 6 participants from FAO-IPM, one technologies in rainfed areas of three provinces in Cambodia participant from Oxfam, one from Srer Khmer, 7 in order to sustainably improve agricultural productivity from Royal University of Agriculture (RUA), 2 from and food security in the context of climate change CENTDOR, one from HEKS, one from RACHANA, 3 adaptation, and to enhance research capacities to continue Director of PDA, 3 Local Management Units (LMU), to support this development. In Cambodia, a series of 7 participants each from Takeo, and activities under the auspices of SRI LMB project has been Kampong Speu provinces (see Annex 2). undertaken those included participatory rural appraisal, baseline survey and focused group discussions aimed at understanding the local rice production context and The workshop was able to achieve its objective by challenges. Followed to that National Inception Workshop reviewing the activities of the 2014 and also was organized from 21-22 May 2014. Two main field-based planning for the activities for next cycles of FPARs. learning activities had been carried out in 2014; three Center Farmer Participatory Action Research (CFPAR) and Farmer Participatory Action Research (FPAR). In wet season 2014, 36 FPARs were conducted.

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OBJECTIVES OF THE WORKSHOP 2. Saving for Change

 To review the results of wet season 2014 CFPAR Ms. Keo Kaneka, Policy and Communication Officer of and associated issues related to its SRI-LMB project based at Oxfam, and Oxfam team implementation. provided an overview of their Saving-for-Change  To discuss learning, innovation and challenges Program which Oxfam is implementing since 2005 in which could inform policy advocacy and Cambodia. In her presentation, she informed the communication option and strategy formulation. meeting on process of group formation and its  To plan for the activities of the wet season 2015. functioning. Deliberating further she added that the

group selects their own Chairperson, Secretary, METHODOLOGY Treasurer, and Key holder by closed election process. To achieve the above objectives of the workshop, small Group meet every week and contributes towards and big group discussion, and slide presentations were saving, prepare documents for lending money to the used. group members and perform other needed management functions. ACTIVITIES The Oxfam team will work with farmers to form the Opening ceremony, sharing result and lesson learnt saving for Change Group at SRI targeted villages. from provinces, presentation of findings from PMU, presentation on MEL, and presentation on saving for 3. MEL presentation

change along with planning for wet season in 2015 were the key topics covered during the workshop.

The opening ceremony was presided by Mr. Ngin Chhay, the director of DRC in attendance of Dr. Prabhat Kumar, Dr. Chuong Sophal from RUA and Ms. Keo Kaneka, the representative from Oxfam.

1. Presentation of LMUs From each province, one presentation was made by the Prof. Chuong Sophal, presented the results from the Provincial coordinators; Ms. Ly Thyvy from Kampong Monitoring Evaluation and Learning (MEL) research Speu province, Mr. Men Narith from Kampot, Ms. Mel carried out by RUA in three targeted provinces. The Chantavy from Takeo province. The presentation presentation focused on the cultivation practices of focused on the result of the FPARs, problems farmers and gender issue. After presentation a question encountered, solution available, lesson learnt, and and answer session followed where he provided strategy for coping such problems for upcoming FPARs clarifications on the key findings. Some of the findings in 2015. like fertilizer application by farmers were not in tune with the experiences and observation of the farmer’s trainers (FT). It was agreed that he would go back to the original data sets and verify the results and inform everyone in due course of time. Further in his conclusion there were not much difference between FPAR farmer and non-FPAR farmer. Participants requested RUA to check the collected data and the method of analysis. However, he said that this result came from the average calculation from all districts and

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the change will be visible after the implementation of  A total of 1032 farmers (634 women) attended project for one or two years. FPARs in the 3 target provinces in wet season 2014; 4. General observation of PMU  Farmers had set up field studies to compare SRI

and Farmer Practice (FP) plot in every FPAR field Mr. Kong Kea, the PMU coordinator, presented the key studies. SRI plots on an average recorded a yield findings and observations from the field visits in 2014, level of 4.0 tons/ha in comparison of local practice lesson learnt, and possible solutions. The design of SRI (3.0 tons/ha). The summary result showed that demonstration and other single factor experiments SRI plots got higher yield and net-return than FP were discussed in detail. Furthermore, the province- plots; wise plan of activities for FPARs and other activities for  Farmers set up field experiments on different SRI LMB in Cambodia for 2015 was discussed planned numbers of seedling per hill with 3 treatments (T) and presented. and 4 Replications (R): T1: Single seedling, T2: 3 seedlings, and T3: 5 seedlings. The average yield of 5. Technical discussion field studies got around 4 tons per hectare (T1: Based on the needs and suggestion following technical Single seedling got higher benefit compared to topics were discussed with the farmer’s trainers and other seedling rates/hill tested in these other attendees: experiments;  Fertilizer application in rice  Farmers set up field experiments on different seed  Experimental design at FPAR rates for broadcasting with 3 treatments and 4  FPAR and Post - FPAR design for 2015 replications: T1: 60 kg of seeds/ha, T2: 80 kg  Data collection and recording in FPAR diary seeds/ha, and T3: 100 kg of seeds/ha. The average  Economic analysis (Cost-benefit analysis) yield of field studies got 3 tons per hectare (T1: 60  FPAR & post-FPAR work plan for 2015 kg of seeds/ha got higher net-return than others treatments); and  Farmers set up field experiments on different spacing with 3 treatments and 4 replications: T1: 15cm x 15cm, T2: 20cm x 20cm, T3: 25cm x 25cm. The average yield of field studies got more than 4 tons per hectare (T2: 20cm x 20cm got higher net- benefit than others treatments)

RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS A- Farmer Participatory Action Research achievements (FPAR)

Local Management Unit of all three province presented results from the wet season 2014 FPARs (July-

December 2014). SRI-LMB Project supported 36 FPARs

on rice crop in the 3 target provinces namely Takeo,

Kampot and . The summary were as follows:

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B- Problems of FPAR implementation  It was hard to differentiate between SRI and FP since both sub-plots were in the same main plot.  Farmers faced prolonged drought from July until

end of September 2014;  Farmers changed their family members to attend E- Strategy the FPAR;  Discussion with farmers about their practices or  Farmers faced problem with rice leaf folders and identify problems and prioritize problem for rice blast disease ; specific experiment before cultivation season;  Some NGOs provided monetary allowance for  FPARs focuses on SRI plots only and for farmers to attend the training or the meeting in comparison nearby farmers field should be used as community; and FP plot;  The budget for FPAR was delayed.  Need-based data collection at FPAR; and

 Change from advances money from FAO to LoA to C- Solutions of FPAR implementation improve the budget release from FAO to LMU on time.  DTs postponed FPAR experiments until sufficient rain were received;  Similarly, seeds were re-sown until arrival of normal rainfall;  Close cooperation with local authority and have good relationship with farmers;  DTs advised farmers to apply IPM method to control leaf folders ; and  Trainers encouraged farmers to observe and collect data by explaining the advantages of data

collection for a thorough analysis of their experiments. WORKPLAN

D- Lesson learnt The Farmer Trainers in three SRI target province

 The participation of local authority can increase requested to implement FPAR and post-FPAR in next the participation of farmers. wet season 2015 as following:  Select good cooperative farmer to manage field experiment. Good farmer selection can contribute  Farmer Trainers in Takeo province requested for to the successful of doing adaptive research. 12 FPARs and 12 post-FPARs;  Late start of FPAR will affect the quality of  Farmer Trainers in requested selection of field and in turn field experiments. for 12 FPARs and 12 post-FPARs;  DTs and FTs haven’t used the result from focus  Farmer Trainers in Kampong Speu province group discussion for prioritize problem for field requested for 12 FPARs and 12 post-FPARs. experiment; that’s why similar experiments were set up at FPAR in 2014. Answering to the suggestions from participants for  There were very few difference (single factor work plan year 2015, the PMU will discuss with FAO difference) in practices applied in SRI and FP plots, and AIT during the Regional workshop. so it was shown less different between SRI and FP.

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ANNEXES: Annex 1: Persons attended the National Review and Planning Workshop

 Ms. Chan Phaloeun, Deputy Director of General Directorate of Agriculture  Mr. Ngin Chhay, Director of Department of Rice Crop and Deputy Director of NIPM  Dr. Prabhat Kumar, Regional Coordinator SRI-LMB Project  Mr. Kong Kea, SRI-LMB Project Management Unit  Mr. Chou Cheythyrith, FAO-IPM Project Coordinator  Ms. Srun Khemea, FAO-IPM Assistant Project Coordinator  Mr. Ven Ratana, FAO-IPM Accounting Clerk  Mrs. Chea Lira, Administrative Assistant  Mr. Chhit Mak, IPM Master Trainer  Ms. Keo Kaneka, Policy & Communication Officer based at Oxfam  Prof. Chuong Sophal, Professor of Royal University of Agriculture  Mr. Chhun Sophorn, Srer Khmer Officer  Mr. Nhep Srorn, Provincial Department of Agriculture of Takeo province  Mr. Soy Panha, Provincial Department of Agriculture of Kampong Speu province  Mr. Chann Chesda, Provincial Department of Agriculture of Kampot province  Mr. Men Narith, LMU of Kampot province  Mrs. Ly Thyvy, LMU of Kampong Speu province  Mrs. Mel Channtevy, LMU of Takeo province  Participants from Takeo, Kampot and Kampong Speu province (Annex 3)

Annex 2: Schedule of the National Review and Planning Workshop No. Day Morning Afternoon 1 Day 1 - Arrival of participants at La Parranda hotel, Phnom Penh

2 Day 2 - Presentation on the result of implementation FPAR - Presentation on the result from last wet season 2014 , problem, lesson learnt, MEL finding from RUA challenges and suggestion - Presentation on saving for - Presentation the summary result of implementation change concept and FPAR from last wet season 2014, weakness and sharing Discussion How Saving for experience from others. Change approach could in- - Review and strengthen the facilitation skills, field cooperate with SRI-LMB experimental design, sampling, and data collection 3 Day 3 - Group discussion on the planning for next season - Travel back home - Presentation the result from group discussion - Discussion the LoA between FAO and PDA - Summary result of National workshop - Closing ceremony Closing ceremony

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Annex 3: List of participants of the National Review and Planning Workshop No. Name Sex Position Commune/ District 1 Ms. Chan Phal Loeun F DDG, GDA GDA, Phnom Penh 2 Mr. Ngin Chhay M Director of DRC GDA, Phnom Penh

3 Dr. Prabhat Kumar M PCU, SRI-LMB project Thailand 4 Kong Kea M PMU Phnom Penh 5 Chou Cheythyrith M FAO-IPM Project Coordinator Phnom Penh 6 Srun Khema F FAO-IPM Project Assistant Phnom Penh Coordinator 7 Chea Lira F Admin Assistant Phnom Penh 8 Ven Ratana M Accounting Clerk Phnom Penh 9 Chhit Mak M IPM Training Officer Phnom Penh

10 Tai Chandara M Research Assistant Phnom Penh 11 Chuong Sophal M Professor RUA, Phnom Penh 12 Keo Kaneka F Advisor Policy Oxfam, Phnom Penh 13 Chhun Sophorn M Officer Srer Khmer, Phnom Penh 14 Suon Seng M Director CENTDOR, Phnom Penh 15 Chheang Sok Mao M Officer CENTDOR, Phnom Penh 16 Mom Sitha M Officer HEKS, Phnom Penh 17 Uk Socheat M Officer RACHANA, Phnom Penh 18 Nhep Srorn M Director of Provincial Takeo province Department of Agriculture 19 Soy Panha M Director of Provincial Kampong Speu province Department of Agriculture 20 Chann Chesda M Director of Provincial Kampot province Department of Agriculture 21 Men Narith M LMU Kampot province

22 Ly Thyvy F LMU Kampong Speu province 23 Mel Chantevy F LMU Takeo province 24 Sok Ravuth M Deputy of Agriculture office Tramkak district, Takeo province 25 Long Yan M Farmer Trainer Tramkak district, Takeo province

26 Hun Borin M Agriculture officer Prey Kabas district, Takeo province

27 Im Phuong M Farmer Trainer Prey Kabas district/ Takeo province 28 Ker Rem F Agriculture officer , Takeo province

29 Touch Sophal M Farmer Trainer Peaream/ Bati/ Takeo province 30 Phok La F Farmer Trainer KraingLeav/ Bati/ Takeo province

31 Tonh An M Chief of Agriculture Office Angkor Chey district, Kampot province

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No. Name Sex Position Commune/ District 32 Chea Sokea F Farmer Trainer Samlanh/ Angkor Chey 33 Tip Srey Thuch F Farmer Trainer Samlanh/ Angkor Chey 34 Nget Kath M Farmer Trainer Samlanh/ Angkor Chey 35 Chiem Vanny M Farmer Trainer Chumkiri district, Kampot 36 Pen Kosal M Agricultural officer Chumkiri district, Kampot 37 Horn Srey Pov M Farmer Trainer / Kampot 38 Svay Sarun M Agricultural officer Samrong Torng, Kampong Speu 39 Kim Chhean M Farmer Trainer Samrong Torng/ Kampong Speu 40 Dy Sen Kosal M Chief of Agriculture office Borseth, Kampong Speu province 41 Yin Puthearith M Farmer Trainer Borseth/ Kampong Speu province

42 Chea Rotha M Chief of Agriculture office Korng Pisey/ Kampong Speu province

43 Bin Rorng M Farmer Trainer Korng Pisey/ Kampong Speu province

44 Min Sorn M Farmer Trainer Korng Pisey/ Kampong Speu province

45 Tuy Chantrea M Research Assistant RUA

46 Taing Muy Eng F Student RUA 47 Lors Maya F Student RUA 48 Bong Bandit M Student RUA 49 Yeang Seng Ly M Student RUA 50 Keo Cheng Chaing F Student RUA Total 50 participant (14 women)

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Annex 3- Work plan for FPAR and post-FPAR for 2015

Summary Work plan for FFS and post-FFS activities on Rice crop for SRI-LMB project, wet season 2015

Jun July August September October November December No Activities W1 W2 W3 W4 W1 W2 W3 W4 W1 W2 W3 W4 W1 W2 W3 W4 W1 W2 W3 W4 W1 W2 W3 W4 W1 W2 W3 W4 Identify and select farmers, and 1 experimental plot for FPAR Identify and select 2 participants for FPAR Identify and select field demonstration and 3 experimental plot for FPAR Baseline survey, 4 identification and priority problems 5 FPAR implementation Post FPAR 6 implementation 7 Monthly meeting x 8 Field Day 9 Meeting with landless Conduct training for 10 landless group 11 LMU meeting

For more information: Visit : www.sri-lmb.ait.asia Project Management Unit (PMU), Cambodia Country Office SRI Secretariat, Department of Rice Crop Email : [email protected] General Directorate of Agriculture House 54B, St. 656, Sangkat Teuk Laak, Khan Toul Kork Phnom Penh, Cambodia Phone: (855-17) 959 727