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

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

Scaling-up SLM practices by smallholder farmers (IFAD)

Name of the institution(s) which facilitated the documentation/ evaluation of the Technology (if relevant)

Royal University of Agriculture (RUA) - Cambodia

1.3 Conditions regarding the use of data documented through WOCAT

When were the data compiled (in the field)?

06/05/2017

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

Yes

1.4 Declaration on sustainability of the described Technology

Is the Technology described here problematic with regard to land degradation, so that it cannot be declared a sustainable land management technology?

No

Comments:

This technique can be classified as agroforestry system, using only natural fertilizers.

2.1 Short description of the Technology

Definition of the Technology:

The agroforestry practice based on intercropping of pineapple between mango and orange trees helps to maintain soil nutrients while enhancing potential economic benefits through multiple cropping to meet the market demand.

2.2 Detailed description of the Technology

Description:

The increase in forest cover loss has been dramatic, especially in plateau areas due to population growth and agricultural land expansion. The net result is seen in increased soil erosion and decreasing soil fertility, leading to land degradation (MPWT et al., 2016). Thus, agroforestry is being promoted based on its potential benefits through reducing soil erosion, increasing the economic returns, improved crop yields, improved soil fertility, and soil moisture. Agroforestry is the process of planting vegetables or other crops known as annual crops with long-term crops such as mango and orange trees (MoE et al., 2016).

Farmers adopt agro-forestry intercropping as a technique for reducing the application of chemical fertilizers, more economic use of water and soil moisture, higher yields and higher income. Pineapple is a suitable crop for intercropping in the unused space between mango and oranges trees, because it is share tolerant and does not need much sunlight. Pineapple is also resistance to water logging (for up to 7 days). Occasionally, the areas closest to rivers can become flooded for about 24 hours after periods of heavy rain. Often farmers who adopt the practice of intercropping not use chemical fertilizers or pesticide because they rely on the potential benefits of crop residues, leaf material, small plants, and grass cutting. Normally, mango trees and oranges are the long-term crops, and when grown there is usually a large amount of unused spacing in the area where the trees are grown. If this area is not used for other crops, there is weed ingress which can be difficult to control. Therefore, the cultivation of pineapples in this space will provide an income source in the period before the mango and orange trees become productive. The intercropping also saves labour input for weed control and facilitates the maintenance of the land. Moreover, when mango trees and orange became mature trees, pineapples can continue to be grown as they are shade tolerant but little sunlight may of course lead to lower production. However, pineapples are a relatively new product for that locality's markets.

An examined block of land at Kouk Sralau Village, 2000 square meters in area (20 meters wide and 100 meters long), contained 10 orange trees and 14 mango trees, and about 1000 pineapple plants. The mango trees were planted in two rows on both edges of the land (one row contained about 6 to 7 trees). The oranges were planted in the middle, and then the pineapples between the mango and orange trees. When planting the mango trees 0.5 meter holes were dug with a depth of half a meter. The distance between the mango trees was 15 meters. Leaf and other waste materials that had been kept for about a year were used to fill the holes. The orange trees were planted in a small dike about 20 cm high and length 2m in square shape around the planting hole (the hole was the same size as mango's hole), with a 4 meter distance between the trees. The land was cultivated during April or May and the trees planted after some rain. Weeding was needed in 3 to 4 months period after planting, and a year later cow manure was added to provide a source of organic nutrients. The interrow planting of pineapple plants used a plant-to-plant interval of one meter (collate as triangles shape), with planting taking place into holes 20 cm wide and 10 cm deep. If deeper holes are used, often the pineapples will rot. As it normally takes 9 to 10 months before the pineapples can be harvested, only one pineapple crop is grown per year. After harvest, it took time about 1 to 2 month more before the copies growth (more than 10 leaves) bigger and ready as planting materials for the next plantation cycle. After, all pineapple residue is collected and buried in a part of the land to provide a later source of organic nutrients.

2.3 Photos of the Technology

2.4 Videos of the Technology

2.5 Country/ region/ locations where the Technology has been applied and which are covered by this assessment

2.6 Date of implementation

Indicate year of implementation:

2007

If precise year is not known, indicate approximate date:

• 10-50 years ago

2.7 Introduction of the Technology

Specify how the Technology was introduced:

• through land users' innovation

Comments (type of project, etc.):

The farmer experimented for a longer time with many kinds of crops until he was convinced that pineapple meets his requirements best (e.g. high market demand, less sunlight requirement, no need to use pesticides etc.).

3.1 Main purpose(s) of the Technology

• improve production
• conserve ecosystem
• create beneficial economic impact

3.2 Current land use type(s) where the Technology is applied

If land use has changed due to the implementation of the Technology, indicate land use before implementation of the Technology:

In former times, this land was forest land, later it has been covered by rice and nowadays it used as agroforestry land.

3.3 Further information about land use

Water supply for the land on which the Technology is applied:

• mixed rainfed-irrigated

Comments:

The farm family gets water from stream near the house but in the End of March, they get just little water for watering.

Number of growing seasons per year:

• 1

Specify:

Pineapple as an intercrop grows up during one year and three month later the fruit gets mature to be harvested.

3.4 SLM group to which the Technology belongs

• agroforestry
• improved ground/ vegetation cover

3.5 Spread of the Technology

Specify the spread of the Technology:

• evenly spread over an area

If the Technology is evenly spread over an area, indicate approximate area covered:

• < 0.1 km2 (10 ha)

3.6 SLM measures comprising the Technology

3.7 Main types of land degradation addressed by the Technology

3.8 Prevention, reduction, or restoration of land degradation

Specify the goal of the Technology with regard to land degradation:

• prevent land degradation
• reduce land degradation

4.1 Technical drawing of the Technology

4.2 Technical specifications/ explanations of technical drawing

The represented block of land, 2000 square meters in area, contains 10 orange trees and 14 mango trees, and about 1000 pineapple plants. The mango trees are planted in two rows on both edges of the land (one row contained about 6 to 7 trees). The oranges are planted in the middle, and then the pineapples between the mango and orange trees. When planting the mango trees 0.5 meter holes are dug with a depth of half a meter. The distance between the mango trees is 15 meters. Leaf and other waste materials that had been kept for about a year were used to fill the holes. The orange trees are planted in a small dike about 20 cm high and length 2m in square shape around the planting hole, with a 4 meter distance between the trees. The interrow planting of pineapple plants used a plant-to-plant interval of one meter (collate as triangles shape), with planting taking place into holes 20 cm wide and 10 cm deep. If deeper holes are used, often the pineapples will rot.

4.3 General information regarding the calculation of inputs and costs

Specify how costs and inputs were calculated:

• per Technology area

other/ national currency (specify):

Riel

Indicate exchange rate from USD to local currency (if relevant): 1 USD =:

4000.0

4.4 Establishment activities

	Activity	Type of measure	Timing
1.	Plow 3 times and drying for 2 to 3 days	Agronomic	April-May and after raining
2.	Harrow the soil and drying it for 2 to 3 days	Agronomic	April to May
3.	Dig the holes for cultivation	Agronomic	April to May
4.	Mango tree cultivation	Agronomic	April to May
5.	Orange tree cultivation	Agronomic	April to May
6.	Pineapple plantation	Agronomic	April to May

4.5 Costs and inputs needed for establishment

	Specify input	Unit	Quantity	Costs per Unit	Total costs per input	% of costs borne by land users
Labour	Plowing	person-day	7.5	20000.0	150000.0	100.0
Labour	Digging the holes	person-day	3.0	20000.0	60000.0	100.0
Equipment	Shovel	piece	1.0	8000.0	8000.0	100.0
Equipment	Hoe	piece	1.0	15000.0	15000.0	100.0
Equipment	Spade	piece	2.0	13000.0	26000.0	100.0
Plant material	Mango plants	plant	15.0	4000.0	60000.0	100.0
Plant material	Orange plants	plant	10.0	15000.0	150000.0	100.0
Total costs for establishment of the Technology					469000.0

4.6 Maintenance/ recurrent activities

	Activity	Type of measure	Timing/ frequency
1.	Watering mango and orange trees	Agronomic	Every week
2.	Watering pineapple plants	Agronomic	Every week
3.	Weeding	Agronomic	Every 20 days
4.	Manure spreading	Agronomic	Once a year

4.7 Costs and inputs needed for maintenance/ recurrent activities (per year)

	Specify input	Unit	Quantity	Costs per Unit	Total costs per input	% of costs borne by land users
Labour	Watering	person-day	52.0	20000.0	1040000.0	100.0
Labour	Weeding	person-day	20.0	20000.0	400000.0	100.0
Labour	Manure spreading	person-day	1.0	20000.0	20000.0	100.0
Equipment	Water pumping machine	Piece	1.0	2000000.0	2000000.0	100.0
Equipment	Lawn mowers	Piece	1.0	300000.0	300000.0	100.0
Equipment	Two-wheel tractor	Piece	1.0	4700000.0	4700000.0	100.0
Fertilizers and biocides	Cow and buffalo manure	kg	100.0	200.0	20000.0	100.0
Construction material	Gasoline for water pumping	liter	30.0	3500.0	105000.0	100.0
Construction material	Gasoline for cutting weeds	liter	260.0	3500.0	910000.0	100.0
Total costs for maintenance of the Technology					9495000.0

4.8 Most important factors affecting the costs

Describe the most determinate factors affecting the costs:

Gasoline for water pumping

5.1 Climate

5.2 Topography

Indicate if the Technology is specifically applied in:

• not relevant

5.3 Soils

If available, attach full soil description or specify the available information, e.g. soil type, soil PH/ acidity, Cation Exchange Capacity, nitrogen, salinity etc.

Upper layer and below ground layer is sandy clay loam type, pH=6.

5.4 Water availability and quality

Is water salinity a problem?

No

Is flooding of the area occurring?

Yes

Regularity:

frequently

Comments and further specifications on water quality and quantity:

They are floods of occasionally 1 or 2 days because the land on the plateau is nearly flat. It is flooded 4 to 5 times per year.

5.5 Biodiversity

Comments and further specifications on biodiversity:

Not relevant

5.6 Characteristics of land users applying the Technology

5.7 Average area of land owned or leased by land users applying the Technology

5.8 Land ownership, land use rights, and water use rights

Land ownership:

• individual, titled

Land use rights:

• individual

• Nephew's land

Water use rights:

• open access (unorganized)

Comments:

The land title are often individual but in a very narrow sense. Therefore they are called "soft titles" in Cambodia. In accordance with the 2001 land law, soft title means: It is a Cambodian land title that is recognised at the local government level. Soft titles are provided by the local Sangkat or District office and are not registered at a national level – but are still considered as possessory status. The majority of property transactions still occur with soft titles to avoid ownership transfer taxes and fees.

5.9 Access to services and infrastructure

6.1 On-site impacts the Technology has shown

Socio-economic impacts

Production

Income and costs

Socio-cultural impacts

Ecological impacts

Soil

Biodiversity: vegetation, animals

Climate and disaster risk reduction

6.2 Off-site impacts the Technology has shown

Comments regarding impact assessment:

No off-site impacts

6.3 Exposure and sensitivity of the Technology to gradual climate change and climate-related extremes/ disasters (as perceived by land users)

Gradual climate change

Gradual climate change

	Season	Type of climatic change/ extreme	How does the Technology cope with it?
annual temperature		increase	not known
seasonal temperature	wet/ rainy season	increase	well
seasonal temperature	dry season	increase	well
annual rainfall		decrease	not known
seasonal rainfall	wet/ rainy season	decrease	well
other gradual climate change	The climate can extremely change due to deforestation, next 10 years it would be change to local crops such as mango trees.

Climate-related extremes (disasters)

Meteorological disasters

	How does the Technology cope with it?
local thunderstorm	not known

Climatological disasters

	How does the Technology cope with it?
heatwave	well
cold wave	well
extreme winter conditions	well

Hydrological disasters

	How does the Technology cope with it?
general (river) flood	moderately
flash flood	moderately

Biological disasters

	How does the Technology cope with it?
epidemic diseases	moderately

Other climate-related consequences

Other climate-related consequences

	How does the Technology cope with it?
extended growing period	moderately
reduced growing period	moderately

6.4 Cost-benefit analysis

How do the benefits compare with the establishment costs (from land users’ perspective)?

How do the benefits compare with the maintenance/ recurrent costs (from land users' perspective)?

6.5 Adoption of the Technology

• single cases/ experimental

Of all those who have adopted the Technology, how many have did so spontaneously, i.e. without receiving any material incentives/ payments?

• 90-100%

6.6 Adaptation

Has the Technology been modified recently to adapt to changing conditions?

No

6.7 Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities of the Technology

Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities in the land user’s view
Getting an improved income and enough crops for the family
Healthy production for family needs and for the consumers
Getting increased benefits and reducing labout input, for the watering a moisture source can be provided for pinapples, mango and orange trees.
All crops residues are buried in the soil to improve the soil fertility.

Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities in the compiler’s or other key resource person’s view
Many kinds of crops help to reduce the risk of production failure.
Good product for the market because pineapples are sweet, easy to sell and has no competitors.
Soil improvement is achieved by using cow and buffalo manure in combination with the leaves of trees (organic fertilizer).
Pineapple residues after harvesting worked into the soil to improve the soil fertility.
There is no adverse health impacts because no chemicals and pesticides are used in the system.

6.8 Weaknesses/ disadvantages/ risks of the Technology and ways of overcoming them

Weaknesses/ disadvantages/ risks in the land user’s view	How can they be overcome?
Fruit flies still exist	No resolution yet

Weaknesses/ disadvantages/ risks in the compiler’s or other key resource person’s view	How can they be overcome?
Still a large labour input needed for weed management.	Continue to do it conveniently

7.1 Methods/ sources of information

7.2 References to available publications

Title, author, year, ISBN:

MoE, Adaptation Fund and UNEP (2016) Agroforestry System: “Enhancing Climate Change Resilience of Rural Communities Living in Protected Areas in Cambodia”. Ministry of Environment.

Available from where? Costs?

Ministry of Environment

Title, author, year, ISBN:

MPWT and NCSD/MOE (2016) Adaptation Technologies Toolkit for Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries in Cambodia, Phnom Penh, Cambodia.

7.3 Links to relevant information which is available online

Title/ description:

Ung T. Orange. Agritime-KH.

URL:

Retrieved on June 21 2017 from http://agritimekh.blogspot.com/2016/07/blog-post_19.html

Title/ description:

Agritoday. (2016). Pineapple plantation technique. In Khmer.

URL:

Retrieved November 01 2017 from http://agritoday.com/techniques/article/2103.html

Title/ description:

Tropical Permaculture. (2017). Pineapple growing.

URL:

Retrieved November 01 2017 from http://www.tropicalpermaculture.com/pineapple-growing.html