Regional Review and Planning Workshop for SRI-LMB Project

02-03 June 2015, Siem Reap province, Cambodia

Prepared by Mr. Kong Kea, the Project Coordinator

Sustaining and Enhancing the Momentum for Innovation and

Learning around the System of Rice Intensification (SRI) in the Lower Mekong River

Basin (SRI-LMB)

Hosted by ACISAI Center, AIT in partnership with Food & Agriculture Organization (FAO) and

Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF), Cambodia

SRI-LMB

THIS PROJECT IS FUNDED BY THE EUROPEAN UNION

A PROJECT IMPLEMETED BY ASIAN INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY, THAILAND

Project GoalEnhance rainfed smallholder farmers’ capacity confronting climate change sustainably by applying SRI through Participatory Action Research in order to improve food security, income and occupational health status.

To contribute to enhance resilience of rainfed farmers of LMB region confronting climate change

Increased crop yield, productivity and profitability on sustainable basis at smallholders farmers’ field in rainfed in target areas.

Overall objective

Purpose

Project Activities and results of SRI-LMB project implementation in 2014

1. Inception Workshop2. Baseline survey 3. Center Farmer Participatory Action Research (CFPAR)4. Farmer Participatory Action Researches5. Over sea Study Tour for PMU, LMU and Farmer Trainers6. Provincial LMU meeting7. National Review and Planning Workshop

1. National Inception and Planning Workshop

• The National Inception and Planning Workshop was organized on 21-22 May 2014 involving 44 participants (08 women).

• The purpose of the National Inception and Planning Workshop is to ensure wider national consultation on the objectives and activities of the project.

2. Baseline survey

• This activities had been done to identify the general situation of rice production and problem encountered in each province.

• 45 farmers in each target province interviewed. Totally, 134 farmers (35 female) were interviewed.

• It was found that farmers

3. Center Farmer Participatory Action Research (CFPAR)

• Totally, 84 Participants (23 female) attended CFPAR, in those 3 LMU, 9 District Trainers and 72 Farmer Trainers.

• There were 14 days training divided into four time of classes ( 5 days at seedling stage, 3 days at tillering stage, 2days at flowering stage and 4 days at ripening stage.

• CFPAR aimed to increase knowledge of participants on the basic of SRI, research methodology, facilitation skills, and FFS management.

• Adult learning and non-formal education approach were used such as plenary and small group discussion, role play, and actual practice in the field.

Main Activities at CFPAR

→ Technical discussion on SRI → Training on facilitation skills→ Discussion on the research methodology→ Discussion on the management of FFS→ Develop FFS curriculum and session guide→ Conduct field experiments → Field Day

Result of experiments at CFPARThere were 8 experiments conducted at CFPAR as following:1. Seeding methods and seed rate for direct seeding

- T1: 60kg/ha by hand, - T2: 100kg/ha by hand, and - T3100kg/ha by drum seeder),

2. Different spacing for transplanting - T1: 15cm x 15cm, - T2: 20cm x 20cm, and - T3: 25 cm x25 cm)

3. Different fertilizer application - T1: N52 P15 K20,

- T2: Cow manure 10 t/ha, - T3: N28 P12 K10 with cow manure 5t/ha,

- T4: N28 P12 K10 with cow manure 10t/ha)

4. Different Number of Seedling per hill - T1. Single seedling, - T2: 3 sedling, - T3: 5 seedling and - T4: 7 seedling

5. Different transplanting method - T1: transplanting in row, - T2: Randomly transplanting, and - T3: Parachute)

6. Different weeding methods - T1:Hand weeding, - T2: Neak Srer, - T3: Spraying herbicide at 15 days after sowing)

7. Different age of seedling for transplanting- T1. 15 days - T2: 25 days - T3: 40 days

8. Different rice varieties - T1. Phka Rumdoul - T2: Chmar Prum - T3: Chhmar La Eth

The result from experiment at CFPAR

The result of field experiments at CFPAR

The result of field experiments at CFPAR

N52 P15 K20 Cow manure 10t/ha

N28 P12 K10 , Cow manure

5t/ha

N52 P15 K20, Cow manure

10t/ha

4000

4050

4100

4150

4200

4250

4300

4350

4179

4328

4133

4248

Graphic of yield of experiment on different rate of fer-tilizer application at CFPAR

kg/ha

N52 P15 K20 Cow manure 10t/ha

N28 P12 K10 , Cow manure

5t/ha

N52 P15 K20, Cow manure

10t/ha

0200400600800

100012001400

1253

1298

1239

1274

726 79

9 872

924

527

499

367

350

Graphic of economic analysis of experiment on dif-ferent rate of fertilizer application at CFPAR

IncomeExpenseBenefit

US$/ha

The result of field experiments at CFPAR

Mini-TOT activities

Activities at CFPAR

Activities at CFPAR

Activities at CFPAR

Activities at CFPAR

Activities at CFPAR

Activities at CFPAR

Activities at CFPAR

Activities at CFPAR

CFPAR Field Day activities

CFPAR Field Day activities

Farmer Participatory Action Researches in 2014

Province District Males Females Total

Kampong Speu

12 FFS

Borseth 79 43 122

Korng Pisey 33 86 119

Samrong Torng 44 74 118

Takeo

12 FFS

Bati 30 72 102

Prey Kabas 73 37 110

Tramkak 33 71 104

Kampot

12 FFS

Angkor Chey 43 74 117

Chhouk 38 82 120

Chumkiri 25 95 120

Total 398 634 1032

The summary result of field experiments at FPAR in Kampong Speu province

The summary result of field experiments at FPAR in Kampong Speu province

The summary result of field experiments at FPAR in Takeo province

The summary result of field experiments at FPAR in Takeo province

The summary result of field experiments at FPAR in Takeo province

The summary result of field experiments at FPAR in Kampot province

The summary result of field experiments at FPAR in Kampot province

FFS activities

FFS activities

FFS activities

FFS activities

FFS activities

Problems encountered for FPAR in 2014

• Drought prolonging until September • There were changing family member to attend training. • Some NGOs and projects give attendance fee for farmer

meeting or training at community. • Farmers do not actively participate in collection data from field

experiments.• Knowledge and facilitation skills for DT and FT • Late advanced money for FPAR

Lesson learnt from FPAR in 2014

• It would be difficult to select good fields for FPAR if starting late.

• Quality of FPAR is depending on facilitation skills and technical knowledge of trainers.

• The number of participants at FPAR is more If the village chief attend FPAR,

• Good experimental site and active cooperation farmer selected will contribute to the successfulness of FPAR.

• If the identified local problems were considered and put for experiments, farmers would much interested and participated in observing field experiment regularly.

• It would be difficult to differentiate SRI and conventional plots if both plot put in the same main plot.

• There was an observation that old age farmers pay less attention in observing field experiment as compared to the young.

• The quality of FPAR would be better if LMU and PMU team provide backstopping visit regularly.

• It would be easy for farmers to learn and compare if the experiment simply designed (single factor and single replication)

• If duration of each training take over than 2h:30 minute, farmers would pay less attention to the training (affect to their daily works especially for women).

Solution for FPAR in 2015 The FPAR should start as earlier as possible especially the

selection of experimental field and cooperation farmer. At the beginning of FPAR, facilitators have to discuss the local

practices and identify gaps for technical improvement. The technical problems identified have to be prioritized and put

for experiment. Only SRI demo plot ( about 1000m2 follow by one simple specific

comparison experiment (single factor and single replication experiment) will be designed for FPAR in 2015.

Village chief should be invited for FPAR training. Duration of training at FPAR should be minimized but more and

more focusing on the key points.

5. Oversea Study tour for LMU, DT and FT

• In 2014, one oversea study tour to visit

Thailand was organized for PMU , LMU and

Farmer Trainers (10 people).

• It was very important for sharing experience of

project implementation among partner

countries. All participants reported that they

learnt a lot from this study tour. The result from

study tour contributed to the improvment of

FPAR in Cambodia

• In 2014, three provincial reflection and evaluation

workshops were organized to share experience and result

and prepare plan for next year. Relevant stakeholders

were invited.

6. Provincial reflection and evaluation workshop

7. National review and planning workshop

• The National Review and Planning Workshop was organized on 28-29 May 2015 involving 46 participants (10 women).

• The purpose of the National Review and Planning Workshop is to summary the results of FPAR implementation in last wet season 2014 and plan for wet season 2015

Activities proposed for 2015

• Continue to do experiment at 36 old FPAR and follow up and

monitor the adoption of SRI practices with participants.

• Expanding 36 FPAR to other village in target communes.

• Form landless groups, provide training on interested subject

mater for improving their income generation then link this

group with saving for change.

• LMU monthly reflection meeting

• Regular monitoring and provide backstoping visit of PMU and

LMU

• One oversea study tour for PMU, LMU, DT and FT

• One national reviewing and planning workshop

Additional suggestion from LMU, DT and FT

• Request to buy one camera for each province• Request to have office material and expense

for LMU office • Increase allowance for DT and FT• Increase cost of snack from 10$ to 15$ per

day/class since the price of food increased.

Thank You for Your Attention