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AFACI PROGRAM WORKSHOP

ON FOOD CROPS

DISSEMINATION OF POTATO PRODUCTION

TECHNOLOGY IN CAMBODIA

Sorn Vichet and Lun Vanny

20-24 September 2016

Siem Reap, Cambodia

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Welcome to Cambodia

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• Area : 181,035 km2

• Pop : 15 million

ABOUT CAMBODIA

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Rainfall: 1250 – 2500 mm

January : lowest

October : highest

Humidity: 69 - 80%

March : lowest

September : highest

Day length : 11h - 13h

December : shortest

June : longest

Temperature: 23 – 33oC

December : lowest

April : highest

Evaporation: 2230mm/year

September : lowest

March : highest

Location:

102o to 108oE

10o to 15o N

Monsoon climate:

Dry season : November – April

Wet season : May – October

Environmental characteristics

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: Rainfed Lowland

80.4%

: Dry Season

14.2%

: Upland 1.9%

: Deepwater/

Floating 3.5%

Rice Ecosystems of Cambodia

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General Directorate of Agriculture (GDA)

Mission (as defined in Sub-decree No. 188 dated on 14.11.2008)

• Ensure food security;

• Manage and control quality and safety of agricultural

products;

• Improve agricultural productivity through diversification;

• Improve farmers’ incomes, through value added to

agricultural products

• Contribute to poverty reduction; and

• Ensure market access for agricultural products.

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Crop Production in Cambodia

Agriculture is the most important industry for economic stability and

growth of Cambodia.

Rice is the main crop and used as for staple food and livelihood source for

the majority of people.

The total rice production increased from 5.99 million tons in 2005, to 9.23

million tons in 2014.

Mungbean, soybean and peanut are suitable crops commonly grow in

lowland paddy fields after wet season rice.

Aims to produce sufficient food for all households, increase cash income,

and improve soil fertility through crop rotation and multi-cropping.

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0

500

1,000

1,500

2,000

2,500

3,000

3,500

1967 1980 1992 2000 2007 2009 2012 2014

Area (in ‘000 ha) for crop production in Cambodia

Rice Maize Cassava Mungbeans Soybeans Peanut Vegetables

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0

2,000

4,000

6,000

8,000

10,000

12,000

14,000

1967 1980 1992 2000 2007 2009 2012 2014

Production for various crops (in ‘000 tons)

Rice Maize Cassava Mungbeans Soybeans Peanut Vegetables

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Agricultural Crop Production area, 2014

Crop Area (ha) (%) Production

(1000 Ton)

Rice 3,055,507 73 9,234

Cassava 521,459 12 11,943

Fruit tree 174,533 4

Maize 143,517 3 549

Soybean 72,511 2 104

Mungbean 53,294 1 60

Vegetable 51,637 1 415

Sugar cane 48,357 1 1,540

Sesame 28,170 1 17

Peanut 17,818 0.5 27

Tobacco 10,727 0.3

Sweet potato 5,915 0.1 54

Jute 192 -

Total 4,183,637 100

No potato

production!

But there is

market for

imported

potatoes

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Potato : Possibility to produce in Cambodia?

There are many different types of potatoes classified between early, medium and

late season potatoes

Potatoes have been grown on the ground, in car tires and in vitro tissue culture

as well as hydroponics culture

Cambodia has imported almost 99% of potatoes from Vietnam and China where

climate conditions are suitable

However, some provinces like in Mondoulkiri and Ratanakkiri of Cambodia, are

considered possible areas for potato production

Little is known of the feasibility for growing potatoes in the area.

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Dissemination of Potato Production Technology in Cambodia

GOAL:

The goal of this project is to identify and disseminate recommended potato seed

varieties that have high yield, good quality, suitable growing duration.

OBJECTIVES:

To identify good quality potato seed varieties with high yield and short duration

To determine soil types, better timing of growing, and suitable locations for

potato production in Mondoulkiri Province

To demonstrate and disseminate recommended potato varieties and

management technologies to farmers and others involved.

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Outcomes

Identified suitable varieties and management technologies

Promotion of potato production in provinces, where suitable

Strengthened capacity of technicians and farmers on potato production

technology.

Dissemination of Potato Production Technology in Cambodia

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PROJECT ACTIVITIES

Implement rapid assessment to explore conditions for potato growing, and identify

existing potato varieties cultivated by farmers

Establish experimental sites in Monduolkiri Province

Select local and imported potato varieties and potato seed

Conduct trials to determine varieties, suitable duration, and climate for potatoes in

the target sites

Determine characteristics such as yield, quality, timing of planting, and other suitable

management practices

Collect plant samples for disease identification, with links to Plantwise

Demonstrate and disseminate the recommended potato varieties

Dissemination of Potato Production Technology in Cambodia

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Dissemination of Potato Production Technology in Cambodia

ACTIVITIES FOR THE FIRST YEAR (started in August 2016):

Rapid assessment on conditions for potato growing in Mondoulkiri

Establish experimental sites

Select local and imported potato varieties

Capacity building for conducting trials

Conduct trials

Identify potato varieties suitable with locations and high yield.