Research that works for developing countries and Australia

 

Enhancing production and marketing of maize and soybean in north-western Cambodia and production of summer crops in north-eastern Australia

Project ID:
ASEM/2006/130: Enhancing production and marketing of maize and soybean in north-western Cambodia and production of summer crops in north-eastern Australia
Collaborating Countries:
Cambodia
Commissioned Organisation:
University of New England, Australia
Project Leader
Professor Bob Martin
Phone: 02 6773 2869
Fax: 02 6773 3238
Email: bob.martin@une.edu.au
Collaborating Institutions:
  • NSW Department of Primary Industries, Australia
  • University of Canberra, Australia
  • CSIRO Sustainable Ecosystems, Australia
  • Cambodia Agricultural Research and Development Institute, Cambodia
  • Maddox Jolie-Pitt Foundation, Cambodia
  • CARE Cambodia, Cambodia
  • Ministry of Commerce, Cambodia
Project Budget:
$1,169,040
Project Duration:
01/05/2008 - 30/04/2011
ACIAR Research Program Manager
Dr Caroline Lemerle
Project Overview

Agriculture supports an estimated 70% of Cambodia's labour force, with increases in productivity having the potential to reduce poverty among the 56% of the rural population living below the poverty line. Crop diversification beyond rice is increasing productivity, partly in response to demand from Thailand. The relative inexperience of Cambodian farmers in growing new crops, especially maize, does present challenges, for example in declining soil fertility. Appropriate agricultural management techniques and technologies will alleviate this decline, but must be delivered with appropriate socio-economic considerations that cater for the whole-of-value chain, from farms to postharvest management. A sustainable model for maize, and farmer-ready technological packages will be developed and delivered to farmers through participatory methods that address relevant social and economic factors, across the whole value chain. In Australia the approach will be adapted to address conservation farming practices and their adoption in north-western NSW.