Sustainable intensification of smallholder systems in northwest Cambodia

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1 Sustainable intensification of smallholder systems in northwest Cambodia Tom Gill Smith Chair in International Sustainable Agriculture University of Tennessee

2 Cambodia- ~16 Million People

3 Rice Basin of South East Asia

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6 Feed the Future Innovation Labs Innovation Labs draw on the expertise of U.S. universities and developing country partners to tackle challenges in agriculture and food security. 24 Labs, managed by US universities

7 Sustainable Intensification Innovation Lab (SIIL) Integrating horticulture into rice-based systems Livestock Systems Innovation Lab (LSIL) Living fences for improved livestock fodder and crop protection

8 Feed the Future Zone of Influence - Cambodia

9 Feed the Future: Sustainable Intensification Innovation Lab (SIIL) USAID/Kansas State University- SIIL Management Entity Penn State led UTIA subaward

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11 With the frequency of environmental distress, the distance from markets, the low profit typically attained through animal husbandry and agriculture, and the risk perceived to be involved in rice intensification or crop diversification, most people saw village-based livelihood strategies as impossible or unwise." (Bylander, 2014) Bylander, M. (2014). Borrowing across borders: Migration and microcredit in rural Cambodia. Development and Change, 45(2),

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17 Feed Gap (Hot dry) Feed Gap (Wet) Celsius February March April May June July August September October November December January mm Rainfall Max T Hot Dry Early Wet Main Wet Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan Cool Dry Household garden Kang Kong, Bitter Gourd, Pumpkin, Leafy Amaranth, Chinese kale, Choi Sum, Pak choy Current household garden implemented by World Vegetable Center in Cambodia Current model approximately 36 m 2 (Nutrition for a family) Perennial garden Malabar spinach, Papaya, Sweet potato, Ginger, Tumeric, Banana, Ivy Gourd, Chili, Eggplant, Spiny Corinader, Leucaena, Moringa, indigenous vegetables and herbs plus many more which incorporate livestock feed options (Spatial, species and temporal diversity - mimicking natural ecosystems, complete ground cover) Improved Climate Smart Model

18 Methods Sustainable Intensification project Household survey Focus groups Market visits to analyze species for sale Workshops focused on women grafting and conservation agriculture Trainings technology park managers

19 Survey data: Number of plant and animal species produced as reported by Cambodian households Frequency of responses Number of species Male Female

20 Survey data: Use of inputs to sustainably intensify systems Type of household Extension Irrigation Borrow money for agriculture Fertilizer** Pesticide** Male or Joint Female N = 394 ** significant at p=0.01

21 Survey data: Barriers to increased vegetable market access Category Percent of producers reporting barrier Low price (low profit potential) 80 Vegetable quality 20 Lack of transport 13 No time to produce or market 12 Struggles with continuous supply 7 Location (distance from market) 3 Other 6 N = 394 households

22 Survey data: Food security status of smallholders in three rural provinces

23 LIVESTOCK SYSTEMS INNOVATION LAB Challenge: o Hunger, nutritional deficiency for humans and animals linked to seasonality of production = Feed gaps Livestock management: o Can households cultivate a fodder crop or a high-value crop for human nutrition or market sale in a post-rice field?

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25 LIVESTOCK SYSTEMS INNOVATION LAB Tree and shrub species adapted to monsoonal environments Sources of high quality feed for livestock browse or cut & carry Ability to access subsurface water not available to tropical forage grasses Fast growing Ability to coppice and provide abundant fodder Photo credit: Danny Blank, ECHO Asia 2009 conference Photo credit: ECHO Photo credit: Werner Stur, Tropical Forages Photo credit: davesgarden.com

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28 Next steps: Experimental analysis of living fence protection capabilities

29 Next steps Diversification workshop in early January with households who have cows/buffalo Integrated animal-horticulture systems (Living fences, Home-gardens, Seed management) Later in 2018 follow-up with these trained households via a survey and interviews Who adopted living fences and SI practices and why?

30 Acknowledgments Kansas State (management of SIIL program) and University of Florida (management of LSIL program) Partners in Cambodia and SE Asia Dr. David Ader, project manager, UT United States Agency for International Development (USAID) DISCLAIMER: This presentation is made possible by the generous support of the American people through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). The contents are the responsibility of The University of Tennessee and do not necessarily reflect the views of USAID or the United States Government.

31 Questions?