1.2 Coordonnées des personnes-ressources et des institutions impliquées dans l'évaluation et la documentation de l'Approche

Nom du projet qui a facilité la documentation/ l'évaluation de l'Approche (si pertinent)

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 relatives à l'utilisation par WOCAT des données documentées

Quand les données ont-elles été compilées (sur le terrain)?

16/04/2014

Le compilateur et la(les) personne(s) ressource(s) acceptent les conditions relatives à l'utilisation par WOCAT des données documentées:

Oui

2.1 Courte description de l'Approche

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 Description détaillée de l'Approche

Description détaillée de l'Approche:

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 de l'approche

2.5 Pays/ région/ lieux où l'Approche a été appliquée

2.6 Dates de début et de fin de l'Approche

2.7 Type d'Approche

• fondé sur un projet/ programme

2.8 Principaux objectifs de l'Approche

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 favorisant ou entravant la mise en œuvre de la(des) Technologie(s) appliquée(s) sous l'Approche

3.1 Parties prenantes impliquées dans l'Approche et rôles

3.2 Participation des exploitants locaux des terres/ communautés locales aux différentes phases de l'Approche

	Participation des exploitants locaux des terres/ communautés locales	Spécifiez qui était impliqué et décrivez les activités
initiation/ motivation	interactive	Land users are consulted regarding their needs for the establishment of a rice bank.
planification	passive	The planning and design of the rice banks is carried out by SOFDEC staff.
mise en œuvre	soutien extérieur	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.
suivi/ évaluation	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 Diagramme/ organigramme (si disponible)

3.4 Prises de décision pour la sélection de la Technologie/ des Technologies

Indiquez qui a décidé de la sélection de la Technologie/ des Technologies à mettre en œuvre:

• principalement les exploitants des terres soutenus par des spécialistes de la GDT

• n.a.

4.1 Renforcement des capacités/ formation

Une formation a-t-elle été dispensée aux exploitants des terres/ autres parties prenantes?

Oui

Spécifiez qui a été formé:

• exploitants des terres

Si pertinent, spécifiez le genre, l'âge, le statut, l'ethnie, etc.

Community Councils and participating farmers

Formats de la formation:

• sur le tas

Thèmes abordés:

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 Service de conseils

Les exploitants des terres ont-ils accès à un service de conseils?

Oui

• n.a.

Décrivez/ commentez:

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

4.3 Renforcement des institutions (développement organisationnel)

Des institutions ont elles été mises en place ou renforcées par le biais de l'Approche?

• oui, modérément

Spécifiez à quel(s) niveau(x), ces institutions ont été renforcées ou mises en place:

• local

Décrivez l'institution, ses rôles et responsabilités, ses membres, etc.

Community Councils

Précisez le type de soutien:

• renforcement des capacités/ formation

4.4 Suivi et évaluation

Le suivi et l'évaluation font ils partie de l'Approche? :

Oui

Commentaires:

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

Si oui, ce document est-il destiné à être utilisé pour le suivi et l'évaluation?

Oui

4.5 Recherche

La recherche a-t-elle fait partie intégrante de l’Approche?

Non

5.1 Budget annuel de la composante GDT de l'Approche

Si le budget annuel précis n'est pas connu, indiquez une fourchette:

• 2 000-10 000

5.2 Soutiens financiers/ matériels fournis aux exploitants des terres

Les exploitants des terres ont-ils reçu un soutien financier/ matériel pour la mise en œuvre de la Technologie/ des Technologies?

Oui

Si oui, spécifiez le(s) type(s) de soutien, les conditions et les fournisseurs:

The project provides the materials for for rice bank construction.

5.3 Subventions pour des intrants spécifiques (incluant la main d'œuvre)

• intrants agricoles

• matériaux de construction

Si la main d'œuvre fournie par les exploitants des terres était un intrant substantiel, elle était:

• volontaire

Commentaires:

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

5.4 Crédits

Des crédits ont-ils été alloués à travers l'Approche pour les activités de GDT?

Non

5.5 Autres incitations ou instruments

D'autres incitations ou instruments ont-ils été utilisés pour promouvoir la mise en œuvre des Technologies de GDT?

Non

6.1 Impacts de l'Approche

6.2 Principale motivation des exploitants des terres pour mettre en œuvre la GDT

6.3 Durabilité des activités de l'Approche

Les exploitants des terres peuvent-ils poursuivre ce qui a été mis en œuvre par le biais de l'Approche (sans soutien extérieur)?

• oui

Si oui, décrivez de quelle manière:

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

6.4 Points forts/ avantages de l'Approche

Points forts/ avantages/ possibilités du point de vue de l'exploitant des terres
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 Faiblesses/ inconvénients de l'Approche et moyens de les surmonter

Faiblesses/ inconvénients/ risques du point de vue de l’exploitant des terres	Comment peuvent-ils être surmontés?
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

Faiblesses/ inconvénients/ risques du point de vue du compilateur ou d'une autre personne ressource clé	Comment peuvent-ils être surmontés?
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 Méthodes/ sources d'information

7.3 Liens vers les informations pertinentes disponibles en ligne

Titre/ 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