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

1.3 Conditions regarding the use of data documented through WOCAT

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

1.5 Reference to Questionnaire(s) on SLM Approaches (documented using WOCAT)

Model farmer [Cambodia]

Model farms were introduced by a NGO in order to spread knowledge about SLM (compost, System of Rice Intensification SRI, and other technologies) in the project area.

• Compiler: Christoph Kaufmann
• 10/27/2014 midnight

2.1 Short description of the Technology

Definition of the Technology:

Some points of the System of Rice Intensification (SRI) technology, like the row transplanting of young seedlings and the use of compost are adapted and applied in Kampong Chhnang.

2.2 Detailed description of the Technology

Description:

The System of Rice Intensification (SRI) was developed in the 1980s in Madagascar, where a French monk worked together with local farmers. The goals of the project were the improvement of the livelihoods of local farmers and the establishment of a farming system that is self-sufficient and thus needs no external inputs. SRI is not a recipe to be followed step by step, but general ideas that need to be adapted to the local conditions. These basic ideas are the following:
- Early transplanting of the seedlings, at the two-leaves-stage (less than 15 days after sowing). At this stage, the plant still has the potential to make a lot of tillers, and develop a strong root system. The seedlings are transplanted carefully, so the plant doesn’t suffer a transplanting shock.
- Wide spacing of single seedlings, usually in squares. The recommended spacing goes from 25 to 50 cm, depending on the soil fertility. This transplanting technique reduces the concurrence between the rice plants and allows the land user easier weeding.
- Aerating the soil. Rice is produced in standing water, but grows better if the roots are aerated. This is usually done with weeding, and additionally either by alternately flooding and letting the soil dry out, or by draining the water regularly. - The soil is fed with compost or manure in order to enhance the fertility and improve the soil structure.
SRI induces changes in deeply rooted local habits with some counter-intuitive knowledge like that more seeds do not produce more yields. Thus the methods have to be adapted locally and yields monitored to fit to other areas.

In Kampong Chhnang, the rice is transplanted at the six-leaves-stage, which is still earlier than conventional transplanting, with spacing of about 15 to 20 cm.

In Kampong Chhnang, the labour availability is low, as many young people work abroad or in the garment industry. Thus the SRI principles, which were taught by an NGO in 2004, were not followed completely, but adapted to this major constraint. The use of very young seedlings requires careful transplanting, which takes time. Thus the seedlings are transplanted at the 6 leaves stage. Due to the low soil fertility in the area, the optimal spacing as tested by CARDI (Cambodian Agricultural Research and Development Institute), was about 20 by 20 cm.

The rice seeds are soaked in water for 24 hours, and then let to germinate in a hot and humid place for two days. Then they are sown on the seed bed, which is prepared with compost. As there is not enough compost available for all the fields, the seedbed is the only place where compost is applied. In the fields chemical fertilizer is used. The seedlings are transplanted after 20 to 25 days (5-6 leaves) single or two per hill, in rows 15 to 20 cm apart. They are transplanted in better levelled fields than conventional transplanting, to allow the use of less water, as the seedlings are smaller than conventional. Otherwise the water management is the same as conventional; due to the lack of labour availability, the fields are not drained as proposed by the NGO 10 years ago. The field is weeded with hoes. The rice is harvested after 85 % of the panicle turned yellow, thus obtaining the best quality.

The analysed area is flat (slope < 2%), with a tropical climate (dry season from November to May and wet season from June to October), and the soils are mostly sandy or loamy. The soil has a low fertility, contains little organic matter, and acidifies. The area has been deforested a long time ago, and the groundwater table is rather high (1-2 m during the dry season, on the surface during wet season).
Due to climate change, farmers notice more erratic rainfalls, temperature rises and more recurrent droughts. Rice is the predominant crop grown in the area, since it serves as staple food (mix subsistence and commercial activities).

The increasing migration rate (the young generation leaves the villages to work in the cities, garment industry or abroad) results in a decrease of available labour force in the area which has detrimental effects on the agricultural activities. Furthermore, the civil war in the 1970s (Khmer Rouge) led to the loss of agricultural knowledge which different NGOs try to re-establish.

2.3 Photos 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

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 projects/ external interventions

Comments (type of project, etc.):

In 2004, SRI was introduced to the land user of this case study by SOFDEC. Then the farmers adapted and transformed some steps.

3.1 Main purpose(s) of the Technology

• improve production

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

Cropland

• Annual cropping

• rice

Number of growing seasons per year:

• 1

Specify:

Longest growing period in days: 210, Longest growing period from month to month: June-December

Comments:

Major land use problems (compiler’s opinion): Lack of organic matter, lack of water retention in soil, irregularity of rainfall, low soil fertility (sandy soil), monocultures, bare soil during dry season, ploughing.
Major land use problems (land users’ perception): Low soil fertility, sandy soil with low water retention.

3.4 Water supply

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

• mixed rainfed-irrigated

3.5 SLM group to which the Technology belongs

• integrated soil fertility management

3.6 SLM measures comprising the Technology

agronomic measures

• A1: Vegetation/ soil cover
• A2: Organic matter/ soil fertility

Comments:

Type of agronomic measures: better crop cover, manure / compost / residues

3.7 Main types of land degradation addressed by the Technology

chemical soil deterioration

• Cn: fertility decline and reduced organic matter content (not caused by erosion)
• Ca: acidification

Comments:

Main causes of degradation: soil management (The soil is ploughed and left bare for weeks in the dry season), crop management (annual, perennial, tree/shrub) (Rice monocultures), over-exploitation of vegetation for domestic use (No organic matter is left on the fields), labour availability (High migration rates.), education, access to knowledge and support services (Khmer Rouge regime led to the loss of agricultural knowledge.)

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 General information regarding the calculation of inputs and costs

4.4 Costs and inputs needed for establishment

4.5 Maintenance/ recurrent activities

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

Comments:

Machinery/ tools: Plough; a hand weeder can be used for higher yields but not enough labour is available on the fields. 1 ha; farmer owns 2 ha; year 2014

4.7 Most important factors affecting the costs

Describe the most determinate factors affecting the costs:

The factor affecting the costs the most is the labour. SRI is labour intensive; the farmer needs twice as much time for a SRI field than for a conventional field. This is the reason he makes only a few of the steps he was taught 10 years ago by SOFDEC.

5.1 Climate

5.2 Topography

5.3 Soils

5.4 Water availability and quality

Comments and further specifications on water quality and quantity:

Ground water table: during dry season
Availability of surface water: during dry season

5.5 Biodiversity

5.6 Characteristics of land users applying the Technology

Indicate other relevant characteristics of the land users:

Land users applying the Technology are mainly common / average land users
Population density: 10-50 persons/km2
Annual population growth: 0.5% - 1%
Off-farm income specification: Handicrafts, factory work, remittances

5.7 Average area of land used by land users applying the Technology

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

Land ownership:

• communal/ village
• individual, not titled

Land use rights:

• communal (organized)
• individual

Water use rights:

• open access (unorganized)

Comments:

Land users have a title that is not recognized by the state

5.9 Access to services and infrastructure

6.1 On-site impacts the Technology has shown

Socio-economic impacts

Production

Water availability and quality

Income and costs

Socio-cultural impacts

Ecological impacts

Soil

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

Climate-related extremes (disasters)

Meteorological disasters

Climatological disasters

Hydrological disasters

Other climate-related consequences

Other climate-related consequences

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)?

Comments:

The building of the compost house (only establishment cost) was subsidized, so he had to pay only 5 $ to build it. On the long term the addition of compost is very positive for the soil fertility.

6.5 Adoption of the Technology

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

• 11-50%

Comments:

67% of land user families have adopted the Technology with external material support
33% of land user families have adopted the Technology without any external material support
20 land user families have adopted the Technology with external material support
10 land user families have adopted the Technology without any external material support
Due to the lack of labour force less farmers are applying the SRI technology.

6.7 Strengths/ advantages/ opportunities of the Technology

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

7.1 Methods/ sources of information

7.2 References to available publications

Title, author, year, ISBN:

List of documentation about SRI in English

Available from where? Costs?

http://sri.ciifad.cornell.edu/extmats/index.html#english (free)