Enhancing production and marketing of maize and soybean in north-western Cambodia and production of summer crops in north-eastern Australia

The project ASEM/2006/130 "Enhancing production and marketing of maize and soybean in north-western Cambodia and production of summer crops in north-eastern Australia" commenced in May 2008. The overarching aim of the project is to improve the functioning of the production - marketing system for maize and soybean in north-western Cambodia as a key to increasing cash income, sustainable growth and poverty reduction for smallholder farmers. The project will facilitate the sharing of knowledge and information at all stages of the value chain from farmer to end-user. This will deliver practical benefits including improved food security, increased income, and reduced vulnerability to disruptions for rural poor farmers. In north-western NSW, the aim is to address lack of adoption of conservation farming practices, increase summer crop diversity and to develop strategies for adaptation of farming systems to climate change.
Eight village clusters were established, four in the district of Samlaut and four in the municipality of Pailin. A total of nineteen trials of improved varieties, rhizobium inoculation of legumes and nitrogen nutrition of maize were successfully completed. The yields of maize, soybean, peanut and mungbean in experimental plots exceeded the predicted maximum yields for Cambodia and were more than double the average farmer yields. The project has identified 6 production technologies to help farmers increase crop yields. The technologies under study are improved varieties, rhizobium inoculation, nitrogen nutrition of maize, crop rotation, reduced tillage and integrated pest management.
Farmer workshops investigated key socio-economic issues related to adoption of the improved crop technologies. Village workshops were completed in December for 2 villages in each of the Pailin and Samlaut districts. The gross margin budgets from these workshops were presented to the project meeting in Battambang in February 2009. Gross margin budgets were completed for experiments in Samlaut and Pailin. Return on investment calculations were completed for inoculation and nitrogen fertiliser application to maize.
Based on case studies and interviews of farmers and middlemen, a value chain map was developed for maize in Pailin. Key on-ground issues were identified for each value chain participant (farmer, middleman, silo manager), followed by establishing a suitable case study for the project. A case study was set up in Pailin region based on CARE farmer clusters, supply chains to silo and Thai markets. By far the largest task in the first year was gathering information to map out the supply chains. It has involved extensive farmer and middlemen surveys and interviews as well as visits to observe the different supply chain activities.
A review of marketing arrangements in the Pailin area revealed that there is essentially a single buyer for upland crops in northwest Cambodia (i.e. CP Foods based in Thailand). The Northwest Agricultural Marketing Association (NAMA) was established as a marketing organization of upland crops and already its members account for about 20% of the crop in that region. NAMA will seek to develop alternative export markets as well as farmer hubs for inputs, outputs and communications. We developed a background paper on NAMA and held two participatory workshops with NAMA members to explore their issues and potential actions. In addition to this work with NAMA we are exploring the possibility to develop a strategic plan for developing farmer associations/cooperatives in the second year of the project. We are also continuing to work with the Ministry of Commerce to carry out research to support the development of the operations of NAMA and its initiative on export market development.
A SMS communication system (EMCS), developed by Dr Rob Fitzgerald, adopted the open source application Frontline SMS. Worked with the newly formed NAMA to develop the SMS Field Communication System to install a server in Pailin with particular focus on the provision of information (rated top priority by members) and the exchange and sharing of silo association price and market information. A server has also been installed with MJP in Battambang with particular emphasis on basic market information and health alerts.
Field crop manuals for maize and soybean have been compiled and are currently being translated into Khmer language. Weed and insect field guides have also been compiled and are being translated to Khmer language. These publications will be made available to PDA extension staff and other information providers. The GDA Directorate of Agricultural Extension will also use the publications as resources for production of farmer extension materials. We also plan to liaise with the Royal University of Agriculture and Agricultural Colleges to update curricula on upland crop production and marketing information.

ASEM/2006/130 commenced in May 2008. The overarching aim of the project is to improve the functioning of the production - marketing system for maize and soybean in north-western Cambodia as a key to increasing cash income, sustainable growth and poverty reduction for smallholder farmers. In north-western NSW, the aim is to develop strategies for adaptation of farming systems to climate variability and climate change.
Down-scaled future climate scenarios were completed for sorghum in NW NSW and APSIM simulation runs were completed for farming systems options for sorghum. Economic analysis of farmer preferences were completed and submitted for presentation/publication in the Australian Summer Grains Conference June 2010. Linear programming will be used in conjunction with @Risk to analyse the outcomes of farming systems options for adaptation to climate change.
In Cambodia, the trial and demonstration program in 2009 included improved varieties, rhizobium inoculation of legumes and nitrogen nutrition of maize. In 2009, feedback from farmers highlighted the need for trials on herbicides for weed control in maize and soybean because the cost of labour had become too great to allow for hand-weeding. The production technologies being evaluated now include: improved varieties, rhizobium inoculation, nitrogen nutrition of maize, crop rotation, reduced tillage, integrated pest management and weed management.
Farmer workshops investigated key socio-economic issues related to adoption of the improved crop technologies - the major issue in 2009 has been the increasing cost of farm labour. In June 2009 the village workshops developed partial budgets for return on investment for the application of nitrogen fertilizer to maize and inoculation of legume seeds with rhizobium. In October 2009 further partial budgets were developed for weeding of crops - hand weeding versus chemical sprays.
A review of marketing arrangements in northwest Cambodia revealed there is essentially a single buyer for upland crops in the region (CP Foods, Thailand). Thus, Professor Spriggs provided assistance to establish the Northwest Agricultural Marketing Association (NAMA) to improve the marketing arrangements in the region. NAMA is anchored by three major silos (Pailin, Kamrieng and Malai) which are important potential crop marketing hubs for inputs, outputs and communications in the region. An action plan was developed with NAMA with two components: (1) to help NAMA with export market development and (2) to help NAMA develop its vision for the future.
A SMS service was developed based on a simple, robust framework for contact dissemination which includes the potential for peer-submitted and peer-reviewed content. A prototype system was completed in January 2010, using a more modular architecture and popular open-source software solutions. Field research in February 2010 resulted in a revised focus for the system towards mapping and disseminating information about market players relevant to users. The FrontlineSMS server is being hosted at the Royal University of Phnom Penh (RUPP).
Value chain mapping has been completed including a grain trader survey in 2009.These data will add significantly to the knowledge about the farmer/grain trader relationships. A social network analysis (SNA ) was carried out to identify the key actors in the farmer/grain trader network. The main immediate opportunities to address constraints in the value chain include the creation of a farmer's association, a grain trader association and the investigation of grain storage facilities at the farmer and trader level. A farmer association has been established by the CARE Pailin team in cooperation with the local Provincial Department of Agriculture (PDA). Preliminary work has also been done to establish a grain trader (middleman) association. Planning has been in cooperation with the Pailin Department of Commerce (DoC).
The Suranaree University of Technology, Nakhon Ratchasima, North-East Thailand was identified as a source of liquid rhizobium and supplies were obtained to provide farmers with inoculants to try out in their own fields in EWS 2010. A TOT activity was developed to assist with the roll out of the technology.
An illustrated children's book "Jorani and the Green Vegetable Bugs" was published in Khmer language to teach children about integrated pest management (IPM) in upland crops. A pilot activity involved introducing the concept to school directors and teachers; development of a teacher guide; implementation in schools; celebration and public launch. The pilot was a success and further units are being considered for the Life Skills program. The concept will be presented to the MoEYS for endorsement and roll-out to primary schools in Cambodia. Negotiations are now underway to publish a Lao version of the book in collaboration with the Lao/Japanese NGO "Action with Lao Children."