CSA team meeting

Climate Smart Agriculture Project (CSA – Cambodia)

October 13, 2014

Contents

1. Major activities (4 September to 13 October

2014)

2. Conclusion

3. Next action plan

2

1. Farmer’s field day on the use of water storage and supply

systems in vegetable production in Svay Rieng province

• To disseminate climate smart

agricultural practices

• Tarpaulin lining pond, Rovai pump, and

climate smart agricultural practices

were the main discussion points

• Thirty five participants, including

farmers, women members of vegetable

producer group, village chiefs,

commune councillors, commune chief

and representatives from CFAP.

3

• The participants are happy to learn the

climate smart agricultural practices,

water storage and supply systems,

especially the commitment of woman

farmer in applying vegetable gardening

for family’s consumption and income.

• The local authorities are aware of the

project’s activities and progress, and

they encouraged the farmers to improve

their vegetable production, at least to

produce safe produce for family

consumption and sell if surplus.

4

Lessons-learned

• Participation of local authorities is important as they can help to

disseminate successful stories and incorporate them into local

plans.

• Farmers’ field day help to transfer knowledge / practices from

farmers to farmers.

• Loud speaker should be used as it helps other farmers /

villagers to hear from distance. This will help in widely

disseminating the farmer’s message in the community.

Video of the farmer’s field day:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JuCAuEequtk&list=UUC1VxflEDIROwLWqyLaKCwA

5

2. Farmer’s field day on cassava trials in Tboung Khmum province

• Purpose: 1) To disseminate lessons-learned / experience of

the cassava trials (intercropping between cassava and

cowpea) to farmers and local authorities, and 2) To make the

CSA project well known to relevant government staff and

stakeholders at provincial level.

6

• In total, 46 participants actively participated in the field day,

including:

43 farmers in Tboung Khmum (21 women), including members of

cassava producer group, non-participating framers, village chief,

commune councillors

2 staff from Vigilance organisation

1 PDA deputy director

7

• The farmers have learned intercropping

practices and its advantages.

• They learned from their trials, such as

what went well, what not went well, and

what to be improved for the next trials.

• Weight of cowpea is about 1kg/m2 or

10tons/ha. Therefore, this amount of

biomass is good for soil fertility

improvement (soil water holding capacity,

reducing of soil acidity, soil loosening, enhance

god aeration and microorganism in the soil,

etc.).

8

3. Mission support from Tshering and Adrian

• The mission to Cambodia was carried out from 10-11

September 2014.

• Major gender related issues collected through meeting with

different respondents

• Challenges faced by the female headed households; women’s

participation in decision making at the community were main

gender issues mentioned by commune councilor, village chief,

farmer association leader and targeted beneficiaries.

9

• “No women farmers’ groups/association leaders, if yes as

secretaries” Kim Saveun, leader of Basak farmer association said.

• Poorer, lower income, food shortage; physical disabilities, which

puts them at a greater risk compared to the male headed

households in terms of their coping mechanisms to adverse effects

of climate change.

• A reflection meeting was organised at SNV office to reflect findings

from the field and discussed entry points where we can make CSA

project more gender sensitive.

• Agenda for meeting by Tshering: https://db.tt/2YMek4CM

10

4. Make contract with CFAP to collect data on water use in vegetable production

• During this month, a small contract with CFAP was made.

• Data collection questionnaire was developed and provided to

CFAP staff.

• Data collection will start from October to end of the year while

vegetable farmers are preparing for planting vegetables at the

end of the rainy season.

• Data collection form: https://db.tt/zBZ9BoiG

11

5. Climate change awareness campaign

• Angkor Research just completed need

assessment report and communication

campaign activities.

• They are now preparing tools, materials

needed for carrying out the communication

campaign activities.

• Need assessment report:

https://db.tt/jULdY8hR

• Communication campaign activities:

https://db.tt/qT5z0q9c

12

6. Selection of consultant

• During this week, we have announced to select consult to

undertake a study on “Options for promoting water-use efficiency

and storage systems among smallholders in the face of climate

change”.

• The study will carry out in different geographical location

throughout Cambodia, but mainly focus in the CSA project areas

and the target provinces of SDC-CHAIN project (horticulture

project).

• Up to know, we have received 5 application so far. 3 out of 5 could

be potentially shortlisted since they show knowledge and

experience in the field we are recruiting. We will work together with

Marieke and CSA team in Cambodia to finalise the selection.

• TOR: https://db.tt/woDbdgfL 13

7. Participate in second Mekong climate change forum organized by Mekong River Commission (MRC)

• Mainly focused on coordination and cooperation among the Lower

Mekong Basin member countries to address the climate change

impact on water resources, agriculture and fisheries, natural

resources, etc.

• National and tranboundary adaptation strategies and action plans

in the LMB as discussed.

14

• Mekong River Commission (MRC) has developed an adaptation

plan, called Mekong Adaptation Strategy and Action Plan

(MASAP) that is crucial for the management and development

of the LMB.

• We have built our network and our CSA project is listed down

into a list of climate change adaptation projects in the LMB. • Kirina brief report: https://db.tt/uuqx0sgv

• Link to the forum:

http://www.mrcmekong.org/news-and-events/events/second-mekong-climate-change-forum-adaptation-to-climate-c

hange-in-the-transboundary-context/

• Presentation slides collected from the forum: https://db.tt/tR2AZp77

15

Conclusion

• Farmer’s field day were the major activities carried out by the

project. Farmers have chance to share their experience and lessons

learned with others.

• We have learned about our improving points if we like to continue

more trials next seasons.

• There was a great support from Tshering and Adrian in regards to

the gender mainstreaming into CSA project. We have gained ideas /

knowledge how to make the CSA project more gender sensitive and

ideas for the CSA project in 2015.

• The CC awareness campaigns seems a bit late while we are now at

designing stages of the campaign activities. It should be done

sooner to generate good outcome and impact for the PME purpose.

16

Next action plan

• Select consultant to study on existing water storage and supply

systems in Cambodia

• Wind pump handling to community + wind pump follow-up

• Farmer field day

• Data collection on the use of water storage and supply systems

in vegetable production

• Data collection on outcome and impact in December

• Printing project’s reports

• Project workshop at the end of the year 2014

• etc.

17

Thank you !

18