Brief Report
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www.sri-lmb.ait.asia/ BRIEF REPORT PROVINCIAL WORKSHOPS 2015 IN CAMBODIA Sustaining and Enhancing the Momentum for Innovation and Learning around the System of Rice Intensification in the Lower Mekong River Basin (SRI-LMB) Venue: The Agricultural Farmer Training and Research Center, Kampong Speu province Date: 23 – 25 February 2015 26 – 28 February 2015 04 - 07 March 2015 BACKGROUND WORKSHOP INFORMATION The AIT led, FAO and Oxfam partnered, EU-financed The Provincial Planning Workshops were organized project entitled: “Sustaining and Enhancing the on 23 - 25 February 2015 for participants from Momentum for Innovation and Learning around the Takeo, 26 – 28 February 2015 for participants from System of Rice Intensification (SRI) in the Lower Kampot province, and 04-07 March 2015 for Mekong River Basin” aims to contribute to enhanced participants from Kampong Speu province. The resilience of rainfed rice farming systems involving Provincial Planning Workshops were held at the small-scale farmers confronting climate change in Agricultural Farmer Training and Research Center, the Lower Mekong region (LMB) countries Kampong Speu province. (see Annex 1& 2). (Cambodia, Lao PDR, Thailand, and Vietnam). The Provincial Planning Workshops were Farmers’ Field School (FFS) approaches will be used participated by 89 persons (22 women) including to educate smallholder farmers in rainfed areas of Dr. Prabhat Kumar, Regional Coordinator SRI-LMB three provinces in Cambodia in order to sustainably Project, Mr. Kong Kea, Project Management Unit improve agricultural productivity and food security (PMU), 4 participants from Oxfam, one from Srer in the context of climate change adaptation, and to Khmer, one from Royal University of Agriculture enhance research capacities to continue to support (RUA), 3 Local Management Units (LMU), 25 this development. The Provincial Planning participants (6 women) from Takeo province, 25 Workshops will improve the capacity of District participants (6 women) from Kampot province, and Trainers and Farmer Trainers in preparing 26 participants (7 women) from Kampong Speu strategies and implementing new activities under province (see Annex 3). the SRI-LMB Project. For these reasons, the Cambodian National IPM Programme organized the The Provincial Planning Workshops were well Provincial Planning Workshops on 23 - 27 February conducted and the participants clearly understood 2015 for participants from Takeo and Kampot all topics. They agreed to apply on what they have province, and on 04-07 March 2015 for participants learned in Provincial Planning Meeting in their from Kampong Speu province. respective areas. 1 This project is funded by EU. A project implemented by AIT. www.sri-lmb.ait.asia/ OBJECTIVE OF THE WORKSHOP MEL presentation To reflect on last year implementation and reviewing project planning in order to inform the initiating of the next FPAR. To discuss about learning, innovation and challenging which could inform policy advocacy and communication option and strategy formulation. METHODOLOGY Prof. Chuong Sophal, presented the results from To achieve the above objectives of the workshop, the research done by RUA in three targeted small and big group discussion, lecture with slide provinces. The presentation focused on the presentations, role-play methodologies and special cultivation practices of farmers, and gender issues. topics were used. After the presentation, there were some discussion Special Topic Discussion on fertilizer application by farmers as the result Data collection form and method were not significant as compared to the farmer’s Insect classification observation and practices. Further in his conclusion Fertilizer management and application there were not much difference between FPAR Value of rice straw farmer and non-FPAR farmer. Participants Yield sampling requested RUA to check the collected data and the Rice disease management method of analysis. However, he said that this result Economic analysis came from the average calculation from all districts and the change will be visible after the FPAR diary implementation of project for one or two years. Saving for Change Ms. Keo Kaneka, Policy and Communication Officer TECHNICAL TOPIC DISCUSSION of SRI-LMB project based at Oxfam, and Oxfam Team briefed about the Saving-for-Change Program which Discussion on technical aspects based on the Oxfam is implementing since 2005 in Cambodia. She suggestion from participants were as follows: discussed about group formation and its functioning. The group would select its Chairperson, Secretary, Fertilizer application on rice Treasurer, and Key holder by closed election and the Insect classification group would function by contributing their savings Common disease on rice and its management in every 7 days and prepare documentations of the Soil nutrient management and rice straw value saving fund. The committee would share the Experimental design at FPAR dividend for agreed period. Data collection and diary record The Oxfam Team will work with farmers to form the Economic analysis Saving for Change Group at SRI targeted villages. FPAR & post-FPAR Curriculum for 2015 (see Annex 3). 2 This project is funded by EU. A project implemented by AIT. www.sri-lmb.ait.asia/ hectare (T1: 60 kg of seeds/ha got higher benefit than others treatments). 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 benefit than others treatments). RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS B- Problems of FPAR implementation A- Farmer Participatory Action Research Farmers faced drought for long time from July achievements (FPAR) until end of September 2015; Farmers change their family members to attend District Trainers (DTs) and Farmer Trainers (FTs) the FPAR; from every target provinces presented their achievement of FPAR from the last wet season 2014 Farmers faced problem with rice leaf folders (July-December 2014). SRI-LMB Project supported and rice blast disease; 36 FPARs on rice crop in the 3 target provinces Some NGOs provided allowance for farmers to namely Takeo, Kampot and Kampong Speu province. attend the training or the meeting in The summary result of FPAR achievement were as community; follows: The budget for FPAR was delayed; and 1032 farmers (634 women) attended in the 3 In general, farmers hesitated to collect a lot of target provinces in last wet season 2014. data from field experiments. Farmers had set up field studies to compare SRI C- Solutions of FPAR implementation and Farmer Practice (FP) plot in every FPAR field studies. The average yield of field studies DTs postponed FPAR experiments until SRI plot got more than farmer’s practices: 4 sufficient rain were received; tons/ha and FP plot got more than 3 tons/ha. Similarly, seeds were re-sown until arrival of The summary result showed that SRI plots got normal rainfall; higher yield and higher benefit than FP plots. Close cooperation with local authority and have Farmers set up field experiments on different good relationship with farmers; numbers of seedling per hill with 3 treatments DTs advised farmers to apply IPM method to (T) and 4 Replications (R): T1: Single seedling, control leaf folders ; and T2: 3 seedlings, and T3: 5 seedlings. The Trainers encouraged farmers to observe and average yield of field studies got around 4 tons collect data by explaining the advantages of per hectare (T1: Single seedling got higher data collection for a thorough analysis of their benefit than others treatments). experiments. Farmers set up field experiments on different seed rates for broadcasting with 3 treatments and 4 replications: T1: 60 kg of seeds/ha, T2: 80 kg seeds/ha, and T3: 100 kg of seeds/ha. The average yield of field studies got 3 tons per 3 This project is funded by EU. A project implemented by AIT. www.sri-lmb.ait.asia/ SUGGESTION The general suggestions from all three provinces were as follows: Increase allowance for DT from $12.50 to $15 and farmer trainers from $7.50 to $10 per day. Increase budget of snack for FPAR participants from $10 to $15 per day. D- Lesson learnt LMU requested camera and small amount of budget for office materials. The participation of local authority can FPAR Trainers request to have monthly meeting increase the participation of farmers; at LMU office. Selection of good cooperation farmers for managing field experiments & research activities; Delayed start in FPAR shall affect the quality of selected field experiments; DTs and FTs haven’t used the result from focus group discussion for prioritize for experiment; it was why similar experiments set up at FPAR in 2014. There were very few practices applied in SRI and FP, so it was shown less different between WORKPLAN SRI and FP; and The Farmer Trainers in three SRI target province It was hard to differentiate between SRI and FP requested to implement FPAR and post-FPAR in since both plots in the same main plot and often next wet season 2015 as following: farmers adopted and followed similar management options even in FP field. Hence, it Farmer Trainers in Takeo province is important that FP field should be selected requested for 12 FPARs and 12 post-FPARs; from nearby areas for comparison purposes. Farmer Trainers in Kampot province E- Strategy requested for 12 FPARs and 12 post-FPARs; Farmer Trainers in Kampong Speu province Discussion with farmers about their practices requested for 12 FPARs and 12 post-FPARs. or identify problems and prioritize problem for specific experiment before cultivation season; Answering to the suggestions from participants for FPARs focuses on SRI plots only and for work plan year 2015, the PMU will discuss with FAO comparison nearby farmers field should be and AIT during the National workshop. PMU also used as FP plot; asked LMU to prepare the presentation on the Need-based data collection at FPAR; and results of implementing FPARs in the last season Change from advances money from FAO to LoA year 2014 for presenting at the National Workshop to improve the budget release from FAO to LMU that will be held at Phnom Penh in May 2015.