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)

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

2.1 Short description of the Technology

Definition of the Technology:

Intercropping of annual cropping (peanut) with cashew trees farm aims to fill the free space of land between cashew trees. This kind of crop cover prevents soil erosion and improves soil fertility. At the same time peanut cultivation is economically interesting for the farmers as it enjoys high market demand.

2.2 Detailed description of the Technology

Description:

Peanut belongs to the family of Leguminosae (scientific name: Aarachishypogeae L) and contains many beneficial substances. The grain of peanut contains nutrients such as protein, calcium, vitamin B, and acid glutamine and its oil content at 40-60 percent is very high. The average yield of peanut is 0.73 ton/hectare (Cambodian Agricultural Research and Development Institute, 2006). Cambodians are growing it at household scale or on large farms.

Peanut can grow on many soil types especially on sandy soils mixed with alluvial soil (alluvial soils easily absorb water). The plant requires much sunlight as lacking light delays the plant growing. Adequate water is another need of the plant - not too much and not too little water. Peanuts grow from April to May and from September to October on the uplands and in November along the river after water has receded. The time of harvesting depends on the seed variety. Short term seeds can be harvested after 90 - 100 days and long term seeds after 120 - 140 days (Agritoday, 2016,Yayo, 2016).

Cashew belongs to the family of Asanardiaceae (scientific name: Anacardiumoccidentale L, Royal University of Agriculture, 2006). Cashew trees are grown in many tropical countries. The nutrition value of cashew nuts is high at about 500 calories per 100 gr. The first worthwhile harvest begins after 3 or 4 years (first yield 2.5 to 3 kilogram per tree) but can be started already with low yield after second year. But seven years after planting the yield of this evergreen tree remains constantly high nearly until it’s cut down after 25 years. In 2017, fresh cashew nuts got 8500 riel per kilogram (Agritoday, 2017).

As main purposes of the peanut as intercrop between cashew trees can be seen in the reduction of weed at 50 percentage and in the increase of additional income (MoE,2016).
Miss. Uth Vin living in the uplands of Preah Vihear province (Cambodia) is one of the farmers engaged in this agroforestry system. Before she started on some plots the land was degraded forest land. Firstly she converted it into a mono-cropping system (cassava, banana, mung bean, and soy bean). In 2016 she changed to cashew trees combined with peanuts.

The main benefits of this intercropping system are:
1. The technology meets the farmer’s ultimate economic need of enough cultivable land, as - to a certain extent - also degraded land can be cultivated by this technique and thus, create yield to improve the household income.
2. Before the farmers gets enough yields from cashew trees (after 3 years), peanuts provide them immediate income (yield after 3 month/2 harvests). On one hectare, peanut can provide a net income of 3,000,000 Riel (4000 Riel per kilogram).
As peanuts need enough sunlight, the intercropping must be stopped after 3 years, because the branches of the cashew trees provide too much shadow that is not convenient to peanut growing.

Beside the benefits already mentioned, the intercropping of peanut can improve soil fertility because the plant takes nitrogen from the air and ''fix'' it into the soil via its roots and by support of Rhizobium bacteria. After harvesting, the plant residues are ploughed into the soil as organic fertilizer. Thus, it is a very important green manure, which reduces the application of chemical fertilizers. Weed control at the first years of cashew growing is important as well. This also can be attained by the peanut cover plantation on the ground. Last but not least, peanut and cashew trees are crops which prevent soil erosion by water.

2.3 Photos of the Technology

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

Country:

Cambodia

Region/ State/ Province:

BengKoang Village, PreahKhleang Commune,Tbaeng Mean Chey District, Preah Vihear Province.

Further specification of location:

The farm is 2 kilometers in distance from the mountain.

Specify the spread of the Technology:

• evenly spread over an area

Map

×

2.6 Date of implementation

Indicate year of implementation:

2016

2.7 Introduction of the Technology

Specify how the Technology was introduced:

• through land users' innovation

Comments (type of project, etc.):

She asked other farmers and it was by self initiative. Before she tried to grow banana, but the cultivation was faced with diseases.

3.1 Main purpose(s) of the Technology

• improve production
• reduce, prevent, restore land degradation
• protect a watershed/ downstream areas – in combination with other Technologies
• create beneficial economic impact

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

Land use mixed within the same land unit:

Yes

Specify mixed land use (crops/ grazing/ trees):

• Agroforestry

Cropland

• Annual cropping
• Perennial (non-woody) cropping
• Tree and shrub cropping

Annual cropping - Specify crops:

• legumes and pulses - beans
• legumes and pulses - soya
• oilseed crops - groundnuts
• root/tuber crops - cassava

Perennial (non-woody) cropping - Specify crops:

• banana/plantain/abaca

Tree and shrub cropping - Specify crops:

• cashew

Number of growing seasons per year:

• 2

Specify:

Peanut grows twice per year.

Is intercropping practiced?

Yes

If yes, specify which crops are intercropped:

Cashew intercropped by peanut

Forest/ woodlands

• Cashew Tree

Products and services:

• Fruits and nuts

3.3 Has land use changed due to the implementation of the Technology?

Has land use changed due to the implementation of the Technology?

• Yes (Please fill out the questions below with regard to the land use before implementation of the Technology)

Other

Specify:

Degraded forest

3.4 Water supply

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

• rainfed

3.5 SLM group to which the Technology belongs

• agroforestry
• improved ground/ vegetation cover

3.6 SLM measures comprising the Technology

agronomic measures

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

3.7 Main types of land degradation addressed by the Technology

soil erosion by water

• Wt: loss of topsoil/ surface erosion

biological degradation

• Bc: reduction of vegetation cover

water degradation

• Ha: aridification

3.8 Prevention, reduction, or restoration of land degradation

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

• prevent land degradation

Comments:

After harvest peanut, the green residues could be ploughed to bury in the soil to improve soil nutrient beneficial for crops.

4.1 Technical drawing of the Technology

4.2 General information regarding the calculation of inputs and costs

Specify how costs and inputs were calculated:

• per Technology area

other/ national currency (specify):

KHR

If relevant, indicate exchange rate from USD to local currency (e.g. 1 USD = 79.9 Brazilian Real): 1 USD =:

4000.0

4.3 Establishment activities

Comments:

Peanut is grown during rainy season. There is no water source in that area.

4.4 Costs and inputs needed for establishment

Comments:

Loan from microfinance.

4.5 Maintenance/ recurrent activities

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

Comments:

The maintenance costs for cashew trees are calculated for a one year period, but for peanut costs are calculated for one growing cycle of 3 month. At the time as this case study was done, the cashew trees were too young to provide the maximal expected amount of fuits, therefore the indicated harvest cost entered in this documentation bases on experience from other farmers in the neighborhood.

4.7 Most important factors affecting the costs

Describe the most determinate factors affecting the costs:

General high expenses for the establishment and for the maintenance of the technology. Cashew trees provide fruit in the 3rd year and whereas peanuts can be harvested within 3 months. Normally from the moment cashew trees provide fruits, farmers could not grow peanut on the same plot anymore.

5.1 Climate

5.2 Topography

Indicate if the Technology is specifically applied in:

• not relevant

Comments and further specifications on topography:

Gentle slope, but mountains are only 2 kilometers in distance of the farm.

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.

The soil top layer is black with small boulders. The soil below surface is red without small boulders.

5.4 Water availability and quality

Is water salinity a problem?

No

Is flooding of the area occurring?

No

Comments and further specifications on water quality and quantity:

Rely entirely on rainfall.

5.5 Biodiversity

5.6 Characteristics of land users applying the Technology

Indicate other relevant characteristics of the land users:

41 years old

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:

• individual, titled

Land use rights:

• individual

Water use rights:

• open access (unorganized)

• Rely on rainfall

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

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

Comments:

The rain is not regular, sometimes is very much rain and sometimes not very much rain. Peanut grow during rainy season.

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

• > 50%

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

• 91-100%

6.6 Adaptation

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

No

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:

Cambodian Agricultural Research and Development Institute. (2006). Farmer Notes. Peanut growing technology., Year 5th,.

Available from where? Costs?

Cambodian Agricultural Research and Development Institute. Free of charge

Title, author, year, ISBN:

MoE. (2016). Agroforestry System “ Enhancing Climate Change Resilience of Rural Communities Living in Protected Areas in Cambodia .”

Available from where? Costs?

Ministry of Environment, Cambodia. Free of charge

Title, author, year, ISBN:

Royal University of Agriculture. (2006). cashew tree management. In Khmer.

Available from where? Costs?

Royal University of Agriculture. Mr. Khoun Eang and Mr. Pagnasoley. Free of charge

7.3 Links to relevant online information

Title/ description:

Agritoday. (2016). Peanut

URL:

Retrieved October 30, 2017, from http://agritoday.com/techniques/article/1413.html

Title/ description:

Agritoday. (2017). តម្លៃគ្រាប់ស្វាយចន្ទីស្រស់បានកើនឡើងប្រមាណ ៣០ភាគរយ

URL:

Retrieved October 30, 2017, from http://agritoday.com/news/article/2677.html

Title/ description:

Chouk Khmer. (2017). Cashew trees

URL:

Retrieved October 30, 2017, from https://choukhmer.wordpress.com/2010/12/10/cashew-tree/

Title/ description:

Reaksmey Kampuchea Newspaper. (2017). បច្ចេកទេសដាំសណ្តែកដី

URL:

Retrieved October 30, 2017, from http://www.rasmeinews.com/បច្ចេកទេសដាំសណ្តែកដី/

Title/ description:

Saang. (2017). Cashew crop

URL:

Retrieved October 30, 2017, from https://sroksaang.blogspot.com/2015/02/blog-post_20.html

Title/ description:

Yayo. (2016). ការដាំសណ្តែកដីតាមបែបធម្មជាតិ

URL:

Retrieved October 30, 2017, from http://vayofm.com/news/detail/60014.html