Rice productivity improvement in Cambodia through the application of technical recommendation in a farmer field school

Abstract

Innovation in rice (Oryza sativa) productivity improvement is a major goal for rice research. However, many studies have tended to analyse the various factors that affect productivity separately, while farmers invest their scare resources in farm inputs that impact on multiple factors in the real farm. This study assessed the effectiveness of integrated pest management practised during farmer field school (FFS) training in Cambodia on the production efficiencies, yields and profitability of rice farming. In total, 270 FFSs on rice cultivated in the early wet, wet and dry seasons were randomly selected from three provinces in 3 years to analyse the production practices and productivity using six cost-related factors: seed, planting methods, field management, fertilizer use, pesticide application and harvesting. It was found that yields and profits were significantly higher with the technically recommended practices (TRs) than with traditional farmer practices (FPs). However, the reverse was true for production costs due to the overuse of seed and pesticides in FP, neither of which are correlated with yield increase for both FP and TR. Thus, the FFS approach is a knowledge-intensive field management tool that enables the rational use of farm inputs and that is expected to be highly effective for sustainable rice production improvement.

Assessment of the growth in social groups for sustainable agriculture and land management

“…Increases in the savings and repayment rates of members of microfinance groups (BRAC, 2019; Rahman, 2019). To agricultural system net farm productivity: evidence of increased system outputs and reduced input needs: Increases in crop productivity, such as by FFSs on all crops (Chhay et al , 2017; FAO, 2019), and in grazing and pasture productivity (NRC, 2010). Increases in tree and agroforestry cover on farms (Bunch, 2018; Garrity et al , 2010; Reij et al , 2008).…”

“…Increases in crop productivity, such as by FFSs on all crops (Chhay et al , 2017; FAO, 2019), and in grazing and pasture productivity (NRC, 2010).…”

“…Other innovations in IPM using close farmer engagement in groups include push–pull redesign in East Africa, with 130,000 farmer adopters (FAO, 2016c; Khan et al , 2016). In Cambodia, 270 FFSs produced a range of innovations to increase both wet and dry season rice yields (Chhay et al , 2017). Nonetheless, it is difficult to overcome the fears many farmers have: that insects always cause harm and so banned compounds are sprayed at night (Hoi et al , 2016; Palis et al , 2006).…”

“…• Increases in crop productivity, such as by FFSs on all crops (Chhay et al, 2017;FAO, 2019), and in grazing and pasture productivity (NRC, 2010). • Increases in tree and agroforestry cover on farms (Bunch, 2018;Garrity et al, 2010;Reij et al, 2008).…”

Empowering change for sustainable agriculture: the need for participation

“…One of most extensive top-down programmes for SAD that has evolved during that past 30 years is the Farmer Field School (FFS) programme initiated by the Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) (FAO, 2017;Rocha, 2017;Settle, Soumare, Sarr, Garba, & Poisot, 2014). The FFS programme focuses explicitly on increasing farmers' knowledge of environmentally friendly farming to increase agricultural productivity and farmers' income (Chhay et al, 2017;Doocy et al, 2017;Hussain, Rehman, Bibi, Khalid, & Khalid, 2017;Rocha, 2017;Settle et al, 2014). Recent studies (Doocy et al, 2017;Rocha, 2017;Scheba, 2017), however, show that this programme has not always been as successful as envisioned (in some cases with no effect at all on the farming techniques deployed or on productivity).…”