Social Systems

Market-focused integrated crop and livestock enterprises for north-western Cambodia

Image
Line drawing of chicken people and plants representing Social Systems program
Project code
ASEM/2010/049
Budget
AUD 2,327,348
Project leader
Associate Professor Ian Patrick - University of New England
Commissioned organisation
University of New England
Duration:
JAN 2012
DEC 2016
Project status
Concluded
Share this page

Overview

This project aimed to shift the focus from exploitive agricultural practices to sustainable diversification of crop-livestock enterprises.

It focused on Conservation Agriculture to reduce soil disturbance, maintain crop residues on the soil surface, and diversify crop rotations for sustainable soil management and reducing climate risks.

Over the past 15-20 years, rainforest in north-western Cambodia has been cleared to establish 220,000 hectares of upland cropping. Excessive burning and ploughing have reduced soil fertility, leading to declining crop yields and incomes for smallholder farmers. Labour out-migration and the rising cost of farm labour have exacerbated the problem.

Key partners
Maddox Jolie-Pitt Foundation
University of Battambang
NSW Department of Primary Industries
Cambodia Agricultural Research and Development Institute
General Directorate of Animal Health and Production
ROYAL UNIVERSITY OF AGRICULTURE
Agricultural Development International