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By Ministry of Commerce and UNDP Cambodia Trade Project

This report, prepared by a team of young Cambodian researchers assembled under the Trade-Related Assistance for Development and Equity (TRADE) project, examines the possible environmental impact to result from intensified production and international trade in rice, cassava, and fish.

The team’s key findings include: The application of chemical fertilizers is widespread in rice farming, with farmers using it to increase the yields of their second (and sometimes third) yearly plantings. Farmers understand that its use has negative consequences for the long-term sustainability of their land (overwhelmingly, their most valuable asset), and also feel that chemically fertilized rice is qualitatively inferior to organically grown rice, but they continue to use the artificial inputs.

The literature survey indicates that farming using chemical fertilizers is only marginally profitable (owing in large part to the high cost of the fertilizers themselves) and that environmentally sustainable “biodynamic” methods could greatly increase the activity’s profit margin. However, the field interviews showed that farmers either do not know about these methods or perceive them to be too complex to undertake.

Cassava production can be environmentally sound if remediation measures are undertaken in tandem with harvesting. The field research shows that many of the largest growers understand this and are taking appropriate action to protect their land’s vitality (e.g., avoiding mono-cropping, using natural fertilizers, changing seed varieties, etc.). However, the nation’s small landholders do not understand or are not aware of these remediation measures and, as a result, continue to utilize a system in which they abandon their land when yield falls, moving their farms to unclaimed plots on which to repeat the cycle.

The report finds that previous studies on agricultural production and trade in Cambodia overlook several ways in which farmers – especially small farmers – can utilize integrated approaches to farming to generate greater income and also safeguard the future productivity of their land. By promoting rice field fisheries, to use one example from the study, rice fields are fertilized naturally and farmers enjoy the revenues generated by the sale of their fish, which, the research shows, can eclipse that which they earn from the sale of rice.

By Ministry of Commerce and UNDP Cambodia Trade Project
This report, prepared by a team of young Cambodian researchers assembled under the Trade-Related Assistance for Development and Equity (TRADE) project, examines the possible environmental impact to result from intensified production and international trade in rice, cassava, and fish.
The team’s key findings include:
The application of chemical fertilizers is widespread in rice farming, with farmers using it to increase the yields of their second (and sometimes third) yearly plantings. Farmers understand that its use has negative consequences for the long-term sustainability of their land (overwhelmingly, their most valuable asset), and also feel that chemically fertilized rice is qualitatively inferior to organically grown rice, but they continue to use the artificial inputs.
The literature survey indicates that farming using chemical fertilizers is only marginally profitable (owing in large part to the high cost of the fertilizers themselves) and that environmentally sustainable “biodynamic” methods could greatly increase the activity’s profit margin. However, the field interviews showed that farmers either do not know about these methods or perceive them to be too complex to undertake.
Cassava production can be environmentally sound if remediation measures are undertaken in tandem with harvesting. The field research shows that many of the largest growers understand this and are taking appropriate action to protect their land’s vitality (e.g., avoiding mono-cropping, using natural fertilizers, changing seed varieties, etc.). However, the nation’s small landholders do not understand or are not aware of these remediation measures and, as a result, continue to utilize a system in which they abandon their land when yield falls, moving their farms to unclaimed plots on which to repeat the cycle.
The report finds that previous studies on agricultural production and trade in Cambodia overlook several ways in which farmers – especially small farmers – can utilize integrated approaches to farming to generate greater income and also safeguard the future productivity of their land. By promoting rice field fisheries, to use one example from the study, rice fields are fertilized naturally and farmers enjoy the revenues generated by the sale of their fish, which, the research shows, can eclipse that which they earn from the sale of rice.

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