Cambodia, an agriculture-based economy, has seen worsening impacts of climate change, including intense rainfall, high temperatures, and sea level rise. The Asian Development Bank, with support from the Pilot Program for Climate Resilience of Climate Investment Funds, assisted the Royal Government of Cambodia to prepare the Strategic Program for Climate Resilience (SPCR) which is aimed at demonstrating ways to integrate climate risk management into development planning. The SPCR for Cambodia consists of 7 investment projects and one technical assistance project. One of the investment projects related to the agriculture sector demonstrates climate smart agriculture techniques such as rehabilitation of irrigation systems to climate-resilient condition, laser land leveling to conserve water and improve irrigation water use efficiency, and weather-indexed crop insurance scheme. The project also helps create more jobs for women, and contributes to economic, social and environmental sustainability of rice farming in Cambodia.
Transcript
Narration
In recent years, Cambodia, an agriculture-based economy, has seen worsening impacts of climate change, including intense rainfall, high temperatures, and sea level rise.
Prey Veng province, for example, was hit by both floods and droughts in 2018, resulting in losses and damage of up to $16 million. The livelihoods of farmers are especially affected.
Soundbites
Bun Sreydeap
Farmer
Damnak Chheukrom Commune, Pursat Province
In the past, we had low yield, and in dry season, Because we could not grow anything, we went to work abroad.
Narration
The Asian Development Bank, with support from the Pilot Program for Climate Resilience of Climate Investment Funds, assisted the Royal Government of Cambodia to prepare the Strategic Program for Climate Resilience consisting of 7 investment projects and one technical assistance project to provide overarching support for the 7 investment projects.
Two investment projects relate to the agriculture sector, including the Climate Resilient Rice Commercialization Sector Development Project. This project is helping farmers increase rice production in three largest rice producing provinces, Battambang, Kampong Thom, and Prey Veng - by rehabilitating and climate-proofing irrigation systems and other rural infrastructure.
Specific engineering measures were integrated into the design of infrastructure to cope with more rapid flows of flood water.
Soundbites
Bun Sreydeap
Farmer
Damnak Chheukrom Commune, Pursat Province
When we have sufficient irrigation, we can come to stay with our family. We can grow plants and find other jobs to do. When our irrigation system work, we can grow enough rice to eat. We can grow nine tons of rice on one hectare of land per year.
Narration
The project also demonstrates the benefits from laser land leveling to conserve water and improve irrigation water use efficiency.
Soundbites
Pol Oum
Farmer
Kampong Trabek District, Prey Veng Province
After using Laser Land Levelling, the water is also levelled. For instance, the water on the left side is 5cm and water on the right side is also 5cm. The preparation of the land before the planting of the rice was not time consuming. It looks a short time. Thus, the expenses on gasoline and other items were also low. According to our experience, we could get 20 to 21 sacks of rice for half a hectare of land, but after we levelled the rice field by using the laser system, the rice yield increased up to 29 sacks.
Narration
To assist farmers in reducing the climate risks associated with rice production, the project is pilot testing a weather-indexed crop insurance scheme in selected areas.
The project is also improving the availability and quality of rice seed by developing a certification system that will result in a more resilient crop.
The project also helps create more jobs for women. All in all, the project contributes to economic, social and environmental sustainability of rice farming in Cambodia.
