SRI International Network and Resources Center

CAMBODIA SRI ACTIVITY ARCHIVES
(1999-2014)

Summary of SRI in Cambodia	Reports and Articles	SRI Groups / Website
Progress / Activities ('15-'20)	Evaluations	Video / Audio
Activity Archives ('99-14)	Workshops / Trainings	Slide Presentations
		Photo Collection

Activity Archives 1999-2014

(for more recent information, see main Cambodia page)

2014

• Central Farmer's Participatory Action Research Field Day and Closing Ceremony

  [December 2014] The Director of Rice Department, General Directorate of Agriculture (GDA), Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF) Cambodia, Mr. Ngin Chhay, addressed a closing and certificate award ceremony of Central Farmer’s Participatory Action Research (CFPAR) was held on November 28, 2014. CFPAR, a season-long intensive training on rice production, was implemented by General Directorate of Agriculture (GDA) of Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF) Cambodia in collaboration with Asian Institute of Technology (AIT) and Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). The project is part of EU funded and AIT-led Regional Project titled "Sustaining and Enhancing the Momentum for Innovation and Learning around the System of Rice Intensification (SRI) in the Lower Mekong River Basin (SRI-LMB)," that is working in 10 provinces of four countries: Cambodia, Laos, Thailand and Vietnam. In Cambodia, provinces include Takeo, Kampong Speu, and Kampot.

  The field day held at the Agricultural Farmer Training and Research Center in Kampong Speu province marked the closing day of CFPAR and aimed to culminate and summarize the learnings from season long CFPAR activities. The various experiments set up at CFPAR provided opportunity to the farmer trainers to scientifically set-up experiments, collect observations and towards the end analyze the results (right). Concurrently, the farmers have started FPAR activities after the completion of CFPAR training and conduct field experiments. (For more information, see the SRI-LMB article on the field day).

• Japan International Volunteers (JVC) Carry Out SRI Trainings

  [2014] Since 2007, Japan International Volunteers (JVC) has promoted ecologically friendly agricultural practices in order to reduce the use of chemical pesticides and fertilizers which have a negative impact on the environment and those living in these areas. JVC has provided SRI training for 343 farmers in 2014. (See Japan International Volunteer Center article for details).

• CEDAC Hosts Study Tour for SE Asian Countries

  [August 10, 2014] The Centre for Alleviation of Poverty through Sustainable Agriculture (CAPSA) in partnership with the Cambodian Center for Study and Development in Agriculture (CEDAC) facilitated a tour for smallholder representatives in Cambodia August 4-9, 2014. Participants included farmers, NGO extension workers as well as government officials from four Southeast Asian countries (Indonesia, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Myanmar and Cambodia). The educational visit to Cambodia was held as part of the Network for Knowledge Transfer on Sustainable Agricultural Technologies and Improved Market Linkages in South and Southeast Asia SATNET Asia project. The participants, who had been invited based on their lead role in their respective communities, were exposed to good practices and technologies, including System of Rice Intensification (SRI), organic crop production/certification, and rice mill cooperatives. They took part in site visits to the Tramkork District in Takeo Province, Roleaphear District in Kampong Chhnang Province, and Phnom Penh. (See article on UN ESCAP website).

• SRI Project to Help Farmers with Climate Change

  A project on System of Rice Intensification (SRI) in the Lower Mekong River Basin (LMB) countries aims to contribute towards the 2015 goal of exporting 1 million tons of rice and alleviating poverty and hunger. The project is led by the Asian Institute of Technology (AIT), sponsored by the European Union (EU), partnered with Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and Oxfam America in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF) and is aimed at enhancing the resilience of rain-fed regions facing climate change in several LMB countries: Laos, Vietnam, Cambodia, and Thailand. The National Inception and Planning Workshop on S.R.I project was attended by approximately 30 participants from the Department of Rice Crop, SRI Secretariat, NGOs, development partners (AIT, FAO, and Oxfam), and other stakeholders. Three provinces were chosen to be the model for the project: Takeo, Kampong Speu, and Kampot. The project is being carried out in 4 LMB countries with a fund of 3.4 million Euros for the period of five years, starting from January 2013. The objective is to develop location-specific technology using the principle of S.R.I and Farmer’s Field School platform. (See Khmer Times article for details.)

• Best SRI Farmers for 2013 Selected during May 2014

  [May 10, 2014] To reinforce SRI dissemination among farmers in Cambodia, CEDAC initiated a SRI national prize open to all rice farmers in Cambodia. During the 2013 rice farming season, 735 farmers registered to participate in the competition. After first round of evaluation at provincial level, 41 farmers from seven provinces were selected as finalists. On 6 May, 2014, CEDAC invited the 23 selected best rice farmers from seven provinces to participate in the final selection. The selection committee consisted of nine people, including three farmer representatives, two representatives from Provincial Departments of Agriculture and the General Directorate of Agriculture, one representative from the Kampong Cham National School of Agriculture, and three representatives from CEDAC.

  Three farmers were selected as best SRI farmers 2013: 1) Mrs. Nhem Sovannary, farmer from Po Preahsang village, Ta Pham commune, Tramkak district in Takeo province, yield of 7.33 tons per ha. 2) Mrs. Sarm Huot, farmer from Kantang Rang village, Rungroeung commune, Stong district in Kampong Thom province, yield of 5.6 tons per ha. and 3) Mrs. Voeun Tep, farmer from Bot Tasom village, Rungroeung commune, Stong district in Kampong Thom province, yield of 5.52 tons per ha. The yield achieved by best farmer for a fragrant rice variety was 7.33 tons per ha, while the yield of fragrant rice with non-SRI methods of cultivation is usually around 2 tons per ha. Farmers are often reluctant to grow fragrant rice as the yields are low even though it sells at a higher price. Thus, with SRI, farmers are more likely to grow fragrant rice for the market as they can get higher prices. The first best farmer received 3 cows, the second best farmer two cows, and the third best farmer one cow. The official ceremony to award the prizes will take place in August, 2014. For the 2014 season, CEDAC invites farmers to register for the competition for the ‘best SRI farmer’ award for this year. (See CEDAC article).

2012 UPDATES

• CODEGAZ Report on SRI Progress in Siem Reap

  The French NGO CODEGAZ reported on 2012 progress made together with its Cambodian partner CEDAC on their three-year training program for resource-limited farmers with in six villages of the Siem Reap Province. Under the program, 380 farmers have been trained in SRI methods, market gardening and ecological chicken-raising in order to improve rice yields, diversify their food supply and ultimately increase their financial revenues.

• Yang Saing Koma Wins 2012 Magsaysay Award

  On July 25, the Ramon Magsaysay Award Foundation (RMAF) announced that Yang Saing Koma (at left), president of the Cambodian Center for Study and Development in Agriculture (CEDAC), was among the six individuals that will receive the Ramon Magsaysay Award for 2012. The award is given to "persons - regardless of race, nationality, creed or gender - who address issues of human development in Asia with courage and creativity, and in doing so have made contributions which have transformed their societies for the better." According to an article in the Asian Journal, Koma is being recognized for "his creative fusion of practical science and collective will that has inspired and enabled vast numbers of farmers in Cambodia to become more empowered and productive contributors to their country's economic growth."

  Fifteen years after Koma founded CEDAC with a team of seven and the help of a French non-government organization, it has become the largest agricultural and rural development NGO in Cambodia. According to information provided by the RMAF, the "linchpin" of CEDAC's success was the introduction of the System of Rice Intensification (SRI), which gradually spread from 28 farmers introduced to SRI in 2000 to 100,000 rice farmers, with a 61% increase in rice yields, reductions in seeds and chemical fertilizers use, and an increase in organic fertilizer use by 85%. In 2005, the Cambodian government officially endorsed SRI as a rice production strategy. Today, CEDAC is reportedly supporting 140,000 farmer families in twenty-one provinces. CEDAC's work has also been credited as a major factor in this increase in Cambodia's rice production from 3.82 million tons to 7.97 million tons between 2002 and 2010. Koma and the other five Magsaysay laureates (who come from the Bangladesh, Cambodia, India, Indonesia, Philippines and Taiwan) received their awards at formal presentation ceremonies held in Manila on August 31. More than 1500 people attended, including President Aquino. He gave public presentations at the the Ramon Magsaysay Center and elsewhere in the Philippines in late August. (More info, see KI-Media article, Koma's RMA profile, and Business Mirror article, Inquirer article, and PhilStar article).

2011

• CEDAC Shares SRI Expertise with Chachoengsao Province, Thailand

  Mr. Vann Saran, a staff member of the Cambodian NGO CEDAC, was posted in Thailand for a 10 months assignment with the FK (Fredskorpset Norway) exchange program. His tasks were to share knowledge and experiences from CEDAC as well as to learn from the host organization techniques. Saran conducted SRI demonstrations at Bana Isan village, Sanam Chaiket district, Chachoengsao province (right), Thailand. Twelve farmers from Hin Rae cooperative and Banna Isan group followed the demonstrations, which took place from August 23 to December 14, 2011, on a plot of 15m x 25m. While the yield of 2,340 kg/ha seems low, it is actually high when compared to the 300 kg/ha average yield with the traditional methods. The farmers appreciated the field practice of the SRI techniques because by using less rice seed and fewer resources and transplanting only one seedling, they could get around 11 tillers per clump on average and a higher yield than usual. (For details, see CEDAC report).
  
  

• CEDAC's 2011 Plans and Progress in Thirteen Provinces

  CEDAC estimates that as of 2011, 100,000 families in Cambodia have applied SRI methods through the promotion of the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, their own NGO and other NGOs in Cambodia.

  During 2011, CEDAC is planning to promote SRI to 75,395 families on 24,293 ha of arable area in 2,317 villages across 268 communes in 45 districts of 13 Provinces. (See blog post) This year CEDAC plans to cooperate with 2,232 farmers to conduct good seed selection and seed purification (traditional / local seeds). The capacity of farmers to do seed selection and purification is also intended to help farmers to conserve their traditional seed, improve its quality and exchange of seed from farmer to farmer. CEDAC will select at least 200 villages to record in detail the SRI practices of the cooperating farmers.

• Yield of SRI vs Conventional Practices Measured in Six Provinces
  

  Yim Sok Sophors reports that during the wet season of 2010, CEDAC staff collected the SRI data of SRI from 540 villages across 6 provinces including Prey Veng, Mondulkiri, Stung Treng, Kampong Chhnang, Svay Rieng, and Kampong Speu. SRI fields averaged 3.24 t/ha for the wet season rice production compared to 2 t.ha for those using conventional practices. This is equivalent to a 62% increase. (See blog post for more information.)

• Ecological System of Rice Intensification (SRI) in Mondulkiri Province

  After the implementation of CEDAC's project, titled "Improving Food Security for Women and Rural Poor in Mondulkiri" during 2009, there are now 231 farmers in 31 villages across 10s communes of 2 districts (Pichrda and Koah Nheaek) applying what is not called the ecological System of Rice Intensification (SRI) on the cultivated land of 29.78 ha. The yield from SRI practice is 3.88 ton per hectare which is higher than the traditional practice which provided only 2.5 ton/ha on average. The SRI farmers would like to expand the rice production through the practices of SRI in the next season. On the other hand, the farmers who had not practiced SRI in the previous season showed interest in applying the methods during the upcoming season. In order to ensure an increase in number of SRI farmers in the next season, CEDAC's staff will provide more training support on SRI, organize a SRI transplanting day and also carry out a harvesting day to strengthen farmers' understanding of SRI. (See Yim Sok Sophor blog article.)

2010

• SRI in Cambodia Cited as Success Story in United Nations Publication
  

  The progress of SRI in Cambodia was featured as one of fifteen success stories featured in the publication MDGs Success Stories from Asia and the Pacific. (See "Grow to feed: Improving food security" on page 15). This document, which is associated with the UN High-Level Plenary Meeting on the Millennium Development Goals, can be downloaded from the End Poverty 2015 Millennium Campaign website. According to the authors, of the 7 Millennium Development Goals, SRI affects Goal 1 on poverty and hunger, as well as 4, 5 and 7 by ensuring nutrition to the family members (especially children and women) and helping to improve the soil through greater root growth and the nurturing of soil microbial diversity.

• Large-Scale SRI Use Being Demonstrated in Battambang

  Dr. Y.S. Koma, director of CEDAC, writes that this season, CEDAC is working with farmers in Battambang province on a 90-hectare SRI operation to show the practicality of using SRI methods on a large scale.  As shown at left, the fields have water drainage channels to permit management of water levels in the soil. Seedlings are grown in vegetable-bed nurseries with forest humus (upper right) and are transplanted at 17 days (lower left and right). This is a little older than generally recommended, but the plants are healthy and farmers have no difficulty with the seedlings.
  

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  MAFF plans to form SRI National Advisory Board

  On July 6, 2010, the Cambodian Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF) convened a meeting to discuss setting up a SRI National Advisory Board (SRI-NAB). Representatives from CEDAC, FAO, Oxfam America, CARDI and the General Directorate of Agriculture (GDA) participated in the meeting. The proposed SRI-NAB will advise MAFF on policies and strategies for promoting SRI in Cambodia as well as assist in setting the direction of the National SRI Secretariat within MAFF for implementing, coordinating and supporting the national SRI program in Cambodia.

  The proposed composition of the Board would include MAFF’s General Director, the Vice General Director of GDA, the Director of GDA’s Rice Department, and representatives from a Provincial Department of Agriculture (PDA), the Council of Agriculture and Rural Development (CARD), the Ministry of Environment, the Ministry of Water Resources, a Farmers’ Organization, the Cambodian Center for Study and Development in Agriculture (CEDAC), and other development partners.

• Campaign on the System of Rice Intensification (SRI) in Svay Rieng Province

  CEDAC is implementing a development project titled “Development of food production, farming income, nutrition and resilience in Cambodia”. The duration of the project is from January 2010 to June 2011, and covers 75 villages in 5 districts of Prey Veng and Svay Rieng provinces. In July 2010, the project team in Chantrea district, Svay Rieng province conducted a SRI Campaign with 270 participants (137 women), that included farmers, village chiefs, commune councilors, and local stakeholders from 9 villages across 4 communes in Chantrea district. (See full article on CEDAC website).

• Cambodian Government Reinforces Commitment to Promote SRI

  During his opening speech of the Annual Conference of the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF) on April 4, 2010, the Minister of Agriculture, H.E. Chan Sarun, emphasized the importance of SRI in contribution to increasing rice production in Cambodia. Then during the closing ceremony of the conference on April 6, 2010, Prime Minister Samdech Hun Sen spoke highly about the benefits of SRI for rice production in Cambodia, especially in term of high productivity and lower requirement of seeds.

  During the event, five ‘best farmers’ were given awards by the Prime Minister for their outstanding work with SRI. For the 2009 season, the best SRI farmer was Mr. Tuy Phan from Tasourn village in Tramkok District of Takeo Province.

  Since its introduction into Cambodia by CEDAC in 2000 and official endorsement by the Minister of Agriculture, H.E. Chan Sarun, in 2005, SRI is now being promoted in all Cambodian provinces. According to the official report released by MAFF at the Annual Conference, the number of SRI farmers in Cambodia in 2009 was reported to be 104,000 farmers, covering 58,000 ha of cultivated area, around 2.6 percent of the total cultivated rice area in the wet season. Average SRI yield was 3.53 tons per ha, compared to a national rice yield average in the wet season of 2.62 tons per ha.

• Update on Cambodian SRI Use in 2009

  Mr. Ngin Chhay, director of the Rice Department in the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, made a PowerPoint presentation on SRI in Cambodia to a national SRI workshop held in Hanoi, January 20-21, 2010 in which he reviewed Cambodian SRI experience for Vietnamese participants. This PowerPoint summary reports that at the end of 2009, there were 110,530 farmers using SRI methods in Cambodia on 59,785 hectares in 4,534 villages. The average SRI yield was calculated at 3.48 t/ha, about 1 t/ha more than the national average. Most of the farmers are practicing rainfed SRI, lacking access to irrigation facilities.

2009

• Cambodian Minister of Agriculture Endorses SRI for National Development

  Brian Lund with Oxfam America has reported on a big step forward for SRI utilization in Cambodia: "Today, August 21, the Minister of Agriculture directed that SRI is to become a mainstay of the agricultural development for Cambodia. For several years now, SRI has enjoyed an increasing level of official support, but today that support shifted into high gear. After a day-long reflection on SRI to date, the Minister in his closing speech directed the senior representatives for 20+ Provincial Departments of Agriculture to budget sufficient support so that their teams can deliver quality SRI extension. Universities and agricultural schools where directed to focus research and curricula on SRI, while the Ministry's extension department was directed to ensure quality extension on SRI. Everyone was given a detailed explanation (by the Minister) about how SRI is not to be treated as just a list of 'must dos' when in fact its success lies in helping farmers think and decide for themselves. In his closing words he equated the spread of SRI practices with 'no more poverty.'

  "Today's meeting means that SRI is now a leading component in the national development strategies of both Cambodia and Vietnam. This acceptance has been promoted by the Oxfam America team for Southeast Asia working with various partners, CEDAC, the National SRI Secretariat, the PDAs, and many NGOs in Cambodia, and the National IPM Program, the Centre for Sustainable Rural Development, several universities, the Vietnam Academy of Agricultural Sciences and other institutions in Vietnam. While in today's meeting I had the privilege of participating with decision-makers on the podium on behalf of Oxfam America, the positive outcome was possible only through the work of many organizations and individuals all working together. There was a great deal of advocacy and evidence-based debate that was necessary not only to overcame doubts and challenges but also to ensure widespread participation in SRI going forward.

  "As one of our partners said after today's announcement: 'Well, now that we've got the policy makers on our side, it is still up to us to shape the real, practical response.' That will be the next big step. It remains to be determined exactly how implementation will take shape, but the various partners in both Cambodia and Vietnam are certainly well-positioned to help both countries take the further big steps expected." A translation of the Minister's speech has also been sent." (see article about speech)

• 104,750 Households in 4,200 Villages Using SRI Methods

  According to data from the SRI Secretariat based in the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, at the end of 2008, there were 104,750 households using SRI methods on 58,290 ha (2.7 percent of the total rice area). On average, SRI methods are giving yields of 3.53 tons per ha, about 1 ton more than with conventional cultivation methods and 40% more than the national average yield of 2.54 tons per ha. This average increased by half a ton per hectare compared with 2007, possibly reflecting the spreading adoption of SRI methods without farmers using the whole set of practices.

  SRI farmers can be found now in approximately 4,200 of Cambodia's 13,000 villages. The number of households using SRI methods went up by 27% over the previous year, and the area under SRI management increased by 24%. CEDAC, the NGO that has given national leadership in introducing and disseminating SRI since 2000, anticipates that SRI will reach most of the villages in Cambodia within the next three to five years.

• Evaluation of Gender Impact of SRI

  Oxfam America has released an evaluation conducted by faculty members from the Asian Institute of Technology in Bangkok and the Royal University of Phnom Penh on 'Gender Dimensions of the Adoption of the System of Rice Intensification in Cambodia.' The study looked at in the context of changes in the rural labor force, with rural-urban migration particularly by males, contributing to a 'feminization of agriculture.' The research team surveyed 648 households in six provinces.

  Respondents reported that women's labor burden in rice production was lightened by SRI methods, giving them more time for domestic work, paid work, or other livelihood activities. Weeding with SRI management required more time, but this was offset by reduced labor demands for nursery and transplanting work. In general, a 50% increase in yield was reported, with savings of money otherwise expended for seeds and fertilizer as the chief benefit. Also, respondents said there was reduced risk of crop failure. The report is available in PDF format.

2007

• New Initiative - System of Intensification and Diversification (SID) - Builds Upon SRI Productivity Gains

  Farmers working with the Center for Study and Development of Cambodian Agriculture (CEDAC) have begun modifying their farming systems, capitalizing on the fact that they can double and even triple their rice yields with SRI methods. Farmers are taking half of their paddy land out of rice cultivation and are redeploying it to have fish ponds and raise vegetables, legumes and fruit, also poultry and sometimes frogs, to raise their net incomes from small holdings, between 0.3 and 1 hectare. Using a small grant from the Triad Foundation, Ithaca, NY, provided through CIIFAD, CEDAC has produced an illustrated Khmer-language manual based upon farmer experimentation to popularize this transformation of smallholder farming systems. An English version of the manual is also available. Two of these SID systems are described in a recent trip report by Norman Uphoff.

• LDS Charities in Cambodia Reports Large Yield Increases for Poor Households

  The Latter-Day Saint Charities working in Kampong Chhnang province in Cambodia has begun introducing SRI methods to households in 39 villages with the guidance and training of the Center for Study and Development of Cambodian Agriculture (CEDAC). A report on 2006-2007 season results by John Lyman, Jean Lyman, Som Rasmei, Yi Kim Than and Lang Chanthea documents the experience of 146 farmers, whose previous paddy yields averaged 1.06 t/ha. With SRI methods, their yields averaged 4.02 t/ha. This quadrupling of yield came with reduced inputs, including less labor. In one household, three sons transplanted the 0.9 ha in the time it took many more adults to transplant with traditional methods. LDS Charities with CEDAC cooperation is continuing the program this year and hopes to expand its involvement with SRI.

2006

• SRI Promotion Integrated into National Development Plan

  The government of Cambodia has integrated SRI promotion into its national development plan for 2006-2010 given the results demonstrated with these methods and SRI’s fit with its strategy for the agricultural sector: intensification (including SRI), diversification (facilitated by SRI gains in land productivity), compost use to improve soil fertility, and fish culture (SRI makes it possible to free up land area for fish ponds). The Ministers of Agriculture and of Environment are personally promoting SRI, as seen from the January 2006 trip report of Norman Uphoff. One farmer receiving an award for highest SRI yield attained an average level of 14.6 t/ha, with one crop-cut of 2 kg/m2 (20 t/ha). Farmers are making now many modifications in their farming systems, based on SRI, to diversify production for both better income and nutrition.

  See also the annual report of the SRI Secretariat at DAALI/MAFF in Phnom Penh.

2005

• Global Marketing Partnership Wins Seed Award

  'Global Marketing Partnership for SRI Indigenous Rice- Cambodia, Madagascar and Sri Lanka' was a winner of the 2005 Seed Awards that were announced April 20, 2005, in New York City. His Excellency Dr. Mok Mareth, Senior Minister, the Ministry of Environment of the Kingdom of Cambodia, His Excellency Ambassador Zina Andrianarivelo, Permanent Representative of the Mission of Madagascar to the UN, Mr. Thosapala Hewage - Secretary of the Ministry of Urban Development and Water Supply, Government of Sri Lanka presented the award to D. Yang Saing Koma, Director, Centre d'Etudes et de Developpement Agricole Cambodgien and Professor Norman Uphoff and Mrs. Olivia Vent, Cornell International Institute for Food, Agriculture and Development.

• SRI Forum at Royal Agricultural University in Cambodia

  The SRI Secretariat at the Ministry of Agriculture, Forest and Fisheries (MAFF) in Phnom Penh, organized a Forum on the System of Rice Intensification (SRI) on November 14, 2005, at Royal University of Agriculture (RUA) Chamkar Doung, Khva Village, Sangkat Dang Kor, Khan Dang Kor, Phnom Penh, Cambodia. The Forum on SRI was chaired by His Excellency Dr. Chan Sarun, Minister of MAFF. At least 200 participants from the line ministries of MAFF, farmers, IOs and NGOs reportedly attended.

  The Forum, which was held in the Khmer language, included SRI progress in Cambodia; visits to SRI rice field; and exchange of SRI experiences among SRI farmers, non-SRI farmers and forum participants.

• Minister and Staff Experience SRI Sites First-Hand

  On August 13, 2005, Cambodia’s Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries took 300 of his staff from Phnom Penh to Takeo Province, the most active center for SRI adoption and adaptation, to become acquainted with SRI and its results first-hand. The German development agency GTZ is now supporting a SRI Secretariat in the MAFF headquarters to coordinate training and extension activities, as discussed in Uphoff's March 2005 trip report. The Cambodian SRI website, which currently lists meetings and events, was upgraded in July, 2005.

2003-2004

• GTZ Evaluates SRI over Five Provinces

  GTZ, the German development agency, in February-April 2004 commissioned a through evaluation of SRI in Cambodia. Data were gathered from 500 farmers, who were randomly selected in five provinces, 400 of them being 'SRI users' and 100 'non-SRI' for comparison. The 'SRI users' were not yet all using all the recommended practices, or using all as recommended, but even so, a 40% increase in yield was documented, and a 75% increase in net income per ha, due in part to substantial reductions in farmers' costs of production. Most significant, this study found that no real increase in labor requirements for using SRI. Labor savings made during transplanting (a time of peak labor demand, when 10 person/days per ha were required) offset the increased labor needed for weeding (which could be done with flexible timing). Also, it was found that reducing the need for cash expenditure at the start of the planting season, when household cash reserves are lowest, was a benefit over and above the overall reduction in total expenditure for growing rice. (See report for details.)

• ADRA Project Shows Yield Increases for Poor Farmers

  In May, 2003, Roland Bunch, well known advisor on farmer-centered agricultural development (author of Two Ears of Corn), now again on the staff of World Neighbors, visited Cambodia for ADRA, the Adventist Development and Relief Association. He visited a village where ADRA personnel had persuaded 100 farmers (of the village's 500) to try SRI. Because these are very poor farmers with an average yield of only 1 t/ha, they asked for assurance that they would be compensated for any loss of yield. Bunch was informed that the average yield for these farmers in the 2002-2003 season was 2.5 t/ha, and none had requested any compensation, as all felt they had benefited from the new methodology. All farmers in the village said they would try SRI in the next season. See Bunch message. This experience has showed how SRI methods can be beneficial under less than ideal conditions (in this case, poor water control) and for very marginal farmers. The most recent report of the ADRA experience is noted in the 2004 ADRA Cambodian Report.

• Permanent SRI Secretariat Formed

  After a national workshop on SRI in Cambodia in April 2004, participants from MAFF, CARD, OIs and NGOs agreed to form a working group and establish a permanent secretariat. GTZ provided CEDAC with funds to set up the secretariat. The working group is chaired by Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF) under the Department of Agronomy and Agricultural Land Improvement (DAALI). Information on the working group, its activities and the secretariat can be found in the forum section of the Cambodian Government's Food Security and Nutrition website's forum section. The Cambodian SRI website has additional information.

1999-2001

• CEDAC Begins SRI Trials in 1999

  The director of the Center for Studies and Development of Cambodian Agriculture (CEDAC), Dr. Koma Sang Yaing, first tried SRI methods in 1999 after reading about them in the ILEIA newsletter. He wanted to satisfy himself that they worked before trying to promote them as part of CEDAC's program for farming system intensification and diversification. In 2000, CEDAC was able to get 28 farmers to try out the methods for themselves. Their good results encouraged 400 farmers to use SRI in 2001, and 3,000 farmers in 2002. The next year, 2003, 10,000 farmers used SRI methods. In 2004, when more precise numbers were possible (but there was less expansion than expected because of severe drought), the number of SRI users was at least 17,092. By the end of 2005, the total was at least 40,000 farmers, and as many as 50,000 were using SRI. See report of national workshops/meetings in January and March 2003. The spread has been promoted particularly by farmers, such as Meysom (shown at right), who was one of the first Cambodian farmers to try SRI. He shown here comparing a SRI rice plant with one grown by usual means. He has become so active in promoting SRI that he is known among farmers and other as "The Professor." (Click on photo to enlarge).

• CEDAC Undertakes 3-Year Evaluation

  CEDAC has done a longitudinal evaluation of SRI experience of 120 farmers who have used SRI methods for three years (2001, 2002 and 2003). Even though not all are still using all of the SRI methods as recommended, the evaluation showed that even incomplete use of SRI has enabled them to get 2.75 t/ha average compared to 1.34 t/ha with conventional means. Their area under SRI has increased from .11 to .47 ha. Fertilizer use has gone from 116 kg/ha to 67 kg/ha on average, and chemical pesticide use has declined from 35 kg/ha to 7 kg/ha. Costs of production have been reduced by half, and household income, even with use of SRI on only of their rice land has almost doubled. 55% of the farmers said that for them, SRI reduces their labor requirements, while only 18% said it increased labor requirements; 27% said it made no difference. See evaluation report (full report or summary) for details.