Cambodia

Research Priorities

Securing productivity of rice-based farming systems

Rice remains Cambodia’s most important staple crop, occupying 90% of all agricultural land. While agricultural diversification is critical, farming families still emphasise the importance of rice food security at the household level. Cambodia is one of three countries participating in the Mekong–South Asia Food Security Research Program (see ‘Highlights’ section). Several CARF projects address alternative rice production systems and aim to optimise fertiliser use and postharvest technologies for rice in Cambodia.

Income generation and better nutrition through agricultural diversification

Cropping systems
This project cluster has two focal areas: (1) improvement of farming systems for upland non-rice field crops and integration of new marketing arrangements that assist smallholder farmers; and (2) establishment of vegetable supply chains (with particular emphasis on production and postharvest handling) for domestic markets. A range of CARF projects provide support for germplasm evaluation and additional assessment of farming systems for field and horticultural crops.

Ruminant livestock
Cattle and red meat are emerging as important products for Cambodia, both domestically and for trade with regional neighbours. An integrated program of animal health and production R&D in Cambodia has a special focus on ruminants. Diseases, reproductive management and nutrition are important constraints to the development of the large ruminant sector. A focal point is to improve year-round availability of feedstuffs for cattle in rice-based farming systems and also roll out an earlier International Center for Tropical Agriculture (CIAT) (Colombia) activity that developed forage banks in the wet season. CARF also funds some small, linked activities in ruminant nutrition, seeking to reduce the impact of trans-boundary diseases by managing livestock movements.

Helping Cambodian crop and livestock production systems respond to climate change

Cambodia is among the countries most vulnerable to climate change in Asia. It has high exposure to climate risks, including increased flooding in lowland areas, increased number of extreme weather events and shifts in seasonal weather patterns. The programs targeting climate change in Cambodia emphasise capacity building and social research to assess adaptive capacity. This is complemented by developing and testing adaptation options based on farming systems diversification and supplementary irrigation from both surface water and groundwater in lowland rice-based cropping.