1.2 Contact details of resource persons and institutions involved in the assessment and documentation of the Approach

Name of project which facilitated the documentation/ evaluation of the Approach (if relevant)

Book project: where people and their land are safer - A Compendium of Good Practices in Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) (where people and their land are safer)

1.3 Conditions regarding the use of data documented through WOCAT

When were the data compiled (in the field)?

16/04/2014

The compiler and key resource person(s) accept the conditions regarding the use of data documented through WOCAT:

Ja

2.1 Short description of the Approach

A rice (seed) bank is a community safety net system where farmers can get both rice seeds for cultivation and rice for consumption from a communal storage house in order to increase their food security by guaranteeing: (1) year-round access to high quality seeds and rice for consumption, (2) access to seed and rice for consumption after an extreme weather event (drought, flood) and (3) improved quality of the planted seeds through the provision of new varieties better adapted to local conditions (e.g. fast maturing, floating rice)

2.2 Detailed description of the Approach

Detailed description of the Approach:

A rice (seed) bank is a system where farmers can get both high quality rice seeds for planting and rice for consumption from a communal storage house. Requirement for the use of the rice (seed) bank is that farmers pay back the purchased rice seeds or rice for food with a 20% interest rate after their next harvest. The bank is managed by a community council consisting of members of the village in collaboration with the local NGO Society for Community Development in Cambodia - SOFDEC.
The rice (seed) banks act as a community safety net in the villages to guarantee food security despite the threat of extreme weather events such as drought or flood. Because of the constant access to high quality seeds, farmers can sow a second time in case the first sowing was lost due to a drought or flood. Also, the communal storage of rice for consumption helps particularly poor farmer families with small plots in case they do not get enough yield on their field to feed the household.
Moreover, new rice varieties, which are better adapted to local conditions and which also perform in the case of extreme weather (fast maturing, floating rice) are introduced through the rice (seed) bank. Besides these new varieties (the result of research carried out by the Local Agricultural Research and Extension Center LAREC in collaboration with other research institutes) have higher yields and can also be sold at a better price on the market.
The need for a rice (seed) bank is decided in participatory manner by the village community. In case a bank is established it is managed by a community council of elected community members. The council is responsible for the storage, the distribution and supervises the back payment of the rice (seed). Through the collaboration between the Community Council and SOFDEC, new SLM Technologies such as the System of Rice Intensification can be promoted in the target villages.
The stages of implementation are as follows:
1. SOFDEC consults with the villagers about the aim and the need for a rice (seed) bank. Generally, rice banks are established if farmers express that there is a high exposure to extreme weather event, low food security and/or rice seeds are of bad quality (bad germination, low yields).
2. The decision about the establishment and implementation of a rice (seed) bank is made by the village community.
3. A Community Council is elected by the villagers and trained on their role and functioning of the rice (seed) bank by SOFDEC staff.
4. The communal storage is built. Building materials are provided by SOFDEC, the community contributes with labor.
5. SOFDEC provides a first stock of high quality rice seeds from LAREC and rice for consumption.
6. After the first harvest, the farmers pay back the seeds and rice consumed with a 20% interest rate.
7. SOFDEC monitors the functioning of the rice seed banks and takes a mediating role in case that problems between the community council and the village community arises.

2.3 Photos of the Approach

2.5 Country/ region/ locations where the Approach has been applied

2.6 Dates of initiation and termination of the Approach

2.7 Type of Approach

• project/ programme based

2.8 Main aims/ objectives of the Approach

The main aim of the approach is to increase the resilience of farmer families by improving their food security (rice seeds and rice for food are now available the whole year round, mutual support after droughts or floods possible), increasing their income (rice varieties higher yielding) as well as strengthening local institutions (community committees manage the rice banks, and participate in decision making on a local level).

2.9 Conditions enabling or hindering implementation of the Technology/ Technologies applied under the Approach

3.1 Stakeholders involved in the Approach and their roles

3.2 Involvement of local land users/ local communities in the different phases of the Approach

	Involvement of local land users/ local communities	Specify who was involved and describe activities
initiation/ motivation	interactive	Land users are consulted regarding their needs for the establishment of a rice bank.
planning	passive	The planning and design of the rice banks is carried out by SOFDEC staff.
implementation	external support	Implementation of the banks is done by SOFDEC in consultation with the land users. SOFDEC finances the materials for the establishment of the rice banks, whereas the community contributes with their labor. Community agrees on the regulations (by-laws) for the implementation of the rice banks.
monitoring/ evaluation	interactive	SOFDEC initially monitors the functioning of the rice banks (3-4 years after establishment). The community council is responsible for the everyday monitoring of the banks (e.g. participating farmers adhere to the regulations agreed on by the community).
research	passive	Research for improved locally adapted rice varieties (fast maturing, floating rice) is done by Local Agricultural Research and Extension Center- LAREC in collaboration with other research institutions. The improved seed developed by LAREC is stocked in the rice seed banks.

3.3 Flow chart (if available)

3.4 Decision-making on the selection of SLM Technology/ Technologies

Specify who decided on the selection of the Technology/ Technologies to be implemented:

• mainly land users, supported by SLM specialists

• n.a.

4.1 Capacity building/ training

Was training provided to land users/ other stakeholders?

Ja

Specify who was trained:

• land users

If relevant, specify gender, age, status, ethnicity, etc.

Community Councils and participating farmers

Form of training:

• on-the-job

Subjects covered:

Community councils were trained on functioning and administration of the rice bank. Farmers were trained on the multiplication and collection of rice seeds.

4.2 Advisory service

Do land users have access to an advisory service?

Ja

• n.a.

Describe/ comments:

Knowledge exchange between the land users and SOFDEC staff.
Knowledge exchange between SOFDEC and the Provincial Department of Agriculture.

4.3 Institution strengthening (organizational development)

Have institutions been established or strengthened through the Approach?

• yes, moderately

Specify the level(s) at which institutions have been strengthened or established:

• local

Describe institution, roles and responsibilities, members, etc.

Community Councils

Specify type of support:

• capacity building/ training

4.4 Monitoring and evaluation

Is monitoring and evaluation part of the Approach?

Ja

Comments:

Everyday monitoring is ensured by the community council.
For the first 3-4 years after the establishment, SOFDEC monitors the implementation and functioning of the rice banks.
Monitoring aspects:
- No. of members, kg of rice taken out of the bank and payed back to the bank
- General attitude towards the rice bank (are the pay back mechanisms adhered to, etc.)
- Amount of yields and quality of rice (seeds), sometimes optimized

If yes, is this documentation intended to be used for monitoring and evaluation?

Ja

4.5 Research

Was research part of the Approach?

Nee

5.1 Annual budget for the SLM component of the Approach

If precise annual budget is not known, indicate range:

• 2,000-10,000

5.2 Financial/ material support provided to land users

Did land users receive financial/ material support for implementing the Technology/ Technologies?

Ja

If yes, specify type(s) of support, conditions, and provider(s):

The project provides the materials for for rice bank construction.

5.3 Subsidies for specific inputs (including labour)

• agricultural

• construction

If labour by land users was a substantial input, was it:

• voluntary

Comments:

Land users supported the establishment of the rice seed banks with their labor.

5.4 Credit

Was credit provided under the Approach for SLM activities?

Nee

5.5 Other incentives or instruments

Were other incentives or instruments used to promote implementation of SLM Technologies?

Nee

6.1 Impacts of the Approach

6.2 Main motivation of land users to implement SLM

6.3 Sustainability of Approach activities

Can the land users sustain what has been implemented through the Approach (without external support)?

• yes

If yes, describe how:

Initial coaching by SOFDEC is needed, however, after 3 years the rice banks function without any external support.

6.4 Strengths/ advantages of the Approach

Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities in the land user’s view
The rice banks offer access to high quality seeds to all farmers in the community.
Increased food security and resilience due to the permanent availability of rice seeds or rice for consumption.
More income due to higher yields and better prices for new varieties.
After about 3-4 years, the banks mostly work independently.

6.5 Weaknesses/ disadvantages of the Approach and ways of overcoming them

Weaknesses/ disadvantages/ risks in the land user’s view	How can they be overcome?
Limited amount of rice (seed) to be borrowed.	Increase the storage capacity and conditions.
Required technical and managerial knowledge for the community councils is high.	Regular training sessions by SOFDEC
Rodents or insects might destroy the rice.	Apply narrow-mash nets to protect the rice from rodents and other animals
Some farmers do not comply with the required interest rates, delays in payback, etc.	Make a contract with them, decide on a step by step pay back manner, or if the farmer is not able repay (sick family member, loss of land, etc.) the whole group can decide to waive the debts

Weaknesses/ disadvantages/ risks in the compiler’s or other key resource person’s view	How can they be overcome?
Seeds are treated with pesticides to make them last.	Improve the storage conditions or use different techniques to prevent pests (Integrated Pest Management IPM)
Only rice is considered.	Introduce a similar approach also for other plants in order to diversify the farmers’ income. Allow the farmer to pay back with other crops or varieties.

7.1 Methods/ sources of information

7.3 Links to relevant information which is available online

Title/ description:

The Society for Community Development in Cambodia (SOFDEC) is a Cambodian Non-Governmental Organization, established in 2006 through the localization of HEKS (the Swiss Church Aid) project in Kampong Chhnang province, Cambodia. The vision of SOFDEC is that Cambodian people living in Cambodia live a state of comfort, equality, equity, and have ownership over the sustainable development of their community. The mission of SOFDEC works in partnership with community based organizations and relevant institutions through integrated community development, research, human resource development, enhancement of family economies, in the hopes to uplift the living standards of the people in the target areas. Our goal aims to uplift the living standards of the rural people of Cambodia through the improvement in income generation, sustainable agricultural practices, microfinance, health, human resource development, and sustainable natural resource management.

URL:

www.sofdec.com