Master Research Proposal

Master Research Proposal

Research Proposal Research Topic: Optimal techniques to improve rice yield in Cambodia

I. Research Questions Are agricultural techniques in rice production of Cambodia nowadays satisfactory? Should it be considered to find more promising techniques to provide high productivity? How well do farmers in Cambodia respond to the current practices? To what extent do farmers understand the benefits of optimal techniques in rice production? What are the optimal techniques currently used in rice production of Japan? Is it possible to implement rice production techniques from Japan in Cambodia? To answer the aforementioned questions, this research is done aiming at three different objectives, 1) to study the optimal techniques currently practiced by Cambodian farmers, 2) to learn good practices practi ces in rice production of Japan, J apan, and 3) to compare the potential of the techniques from both countries and learn if techniques used in Japan can be adapted in Cambodia. Rice is the staple food of Cambodia and, considering food security, it is most important field crop today (H.J. Nesbitt, 1997). In 2003, agriculture accoun ted for 34% of Cambodia’s gross domestic product and employed about 65% of its total workforce. Despite its importance and potential, however, the agriculture sector had sluggish and widely fluctuating growth in the 1990s because of its heavy dependence on rain-fed rice cultivation. Of total cropped area of about 2.6 million hectares, 90% (2.4 million ha) accounted for rice in 2000. Of this only 16% was irrigated (ADB, 2011). On average, rice yield is 2.97 tons/ha (V. Seng, 2011). Because rice crop is playing a significant role in supporting agriculture sector of Cambodia, its yield should be higher and more preferable. Rice- based based farming systems have been the backbone of Cambodia’s agriculture, agriculture, with a long history and rice remains the dominant crop even today (CDRI, 2011). The rice ecosystem is divided into four types. Rain-fed lowland accounts for about 58 percent of the rice area, and upland occupies 2 percent. Flood-prone land represents about 32 percent. Dry season irrigated land covers 8 percent (Economic Institute of Cambodia, 2004). According to Y. Bingxin and F. Shenggen, 2009, suggested that rice in Cambodia is mainly produced in the wet season, which accounts for more than 75 percent of total paddy output.

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In September and October 2011, Cambodia was affected by one of the worst floods since 2000. It affected over 1.5 million people, displacing 214,000 as well as causing the loss of 247 lives (FAO/WFP, 2012). The floods also had a significant impact on the agricultural sector, damaging over 400 000 hectares of paddy fields as well as transport and agricultural infrastructure, including irrigation systems (FAO/WFP, 2012). In accordance with the report of MAFF of Japan, 2007, it is shown yield index of rice of Japan is projected as 99 with a yield per 10a as an estimated 523kg. And in 2010, rice harvested yield in Japan of brown rice is 522 kg/10a (S. Shigeto, 2011). Taking a look at this figure, rice yield in Japan is much higher than Cambodia. Therefore, it is absolutely a good lesson to learn from Japan and try to implement in Cambodia, where possible.

II.

Literature Review The H istori cal I mpor tance of Rice

Rice has supported a greater number of people for a longer period of time than any other crop. Somewhere around 8000-10,000 years ago it was first domesticated and cultivated. The ability to produce a surplus beyond the immediate needs of the producers, which followed perhaps 1000 years later, made possible the initial development of the communities from which the great population centers of Asia arose. Kingdoms and empires based on rice subsequently flourished in China, Indo-China, and India. Rice cultivation spread east into Japan, southwards through the Southeast Asian archipelago and westwards to Madagascar and the Middle East (CAB INTERNATIONAL, 1997). Cambodia’s condition

Cambodia has a population of approximately 12 million, with 80% of people located in rural areas. Poverty is a major problem, related to poor education levels, low incomes and landlessness. Cambodia is still in a rebuilding phase following the rule of Pol Pot and the Khmer Rouge. Agriculture has been identified as the first priority in Government policy, and this has led to the establishment of Cambodian Agricultural Research and Development Institute (CARDI) in August 1999. Agricultural production in Cambodia contributes 40% of the GNP. However, Cambodia’s economy is still weak compared to other Southeast Asian countries. Cambodia was an exporter of rice until the late 60’s and has been in a food deficit for the past three decades. Returns from agriculture are primarily derived from rice (3000 tonnes of rice produced in 2000) and, to a lesser extent, corn, beans, fisheries, and livestock (CRC, 2000). Rice-based farming systems in Cambodia incorporate rain-fed lowland rice, dry season rice in some cases, early wet season rice in some cases, animal production (cattle, pigs, chicken, Prepared by KHEM Borin

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and ducks), fishing (or fish culture) and other activities (such as palm sugar production, vegetable production, wild food collection and trade). The type of farming system selected by farmers varies from household to household, because it is generally based on the principal economic objectives and constraints faced. All these activities sustain and support rice production, which is a way of life for Cambodian farmers and farm households (S. Mak, 2001).

Constr aints to pr oducti on

Constraints to rice production in Cambodia include: -

Absence of clear policy framework

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Undeveloped market for rice and other food crops

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Barrier to export growth, eg low crop productivity

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Institutional problems and financial constraints

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Pests (rats and brown plant hopper)

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Weeds

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Poor soils

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Water shortages are becoming more important than food shortages.

Cambodia’s

Paddy Pr oduction i n 2011/2012

The majority of farm households are engaged in rice production. The most important rice-growing areas include the provinces of Prey Veng, Takeo and Kampong Cham in the South East; Battambang, Banteay Meanchey and Siem Reap in the North West and Kampong Thom in the Centre. In normal years, these provinces account for approximately 65 percent of the aggregate national production. The main wet season for rice generally spans from June to February. The wet season’s aggregate national paddy production, which depends entirely on rain fall is estimated to account for 76 percent of the annual paddy production and about 84 percent of planted paddy area in 2011/2012. The national paddy production for 2011/2012, including the early estimate for the current minor season (dry season), is estimated at a record level of 8.78 million tonnes, some 6.4 percent above the bumper crop of 8.25 million tonnes achieved in 2010/2011. The floods reduced the area harvested. However, an increase in yields more than compensated the reduced area harvested, resulting in the increase in total paddy production of the wet season by 2.3 percent over the same season last year. The yield increase was mainly due to the overall favorable rainfall throughout the country and increased use of fertilizer and improved seeds.


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The secondary season (dry season) generally starts in November and concludes in April. Over the years, the share of the area planted to the dry season paddy in the annual total has steadily increased from about 11 percent during late 1990s to about 16 percent currently. Similarly, the contribution of data from MAFF the 2011/12 dry season paddy production is estimated at 2.1 million tonnes from an area of 471 960 hectares (FAO/WFP, 2012). Rice in J apan

Rice, the traditional staple food of Japan, is grown throughout the country’s main islands. Production is almost exclusively on specially laid out rice paddies, where summer rains and an extensive network of irrigation facilities provide abundant water. Almost all rice is japonica – a short-grain variety widely grown in Northeast Asia. Income from rice farming is about 25 percent of Japan’s total agricultural income, and almost Japanese farmers derive part of their income from rice, either by raising rice or contracting out paddy land for rice growing (USDA, 2003). Toriyama K et al, 2005 suggested that rice is the s tarting point of Japanese food culture.

III.

Key Dissertation Questions

1. What are the optimal techniques in rice production of Cambodia? 2. Are farmers fulfilled with it? Should it be improved in the future to gain higher productivity? 3. What are the optimal techniques currently used in rice production of Japan? 4. Can agricultural techniques employed in rice production of Japan be adapted in Cambodia? 5. What will happen when agricultural techniques from Japan are introduced in Cambodia?

IV.

Methodology

This research will take place in both Japan and Cambodia. In order to succeed in this research, there are several steps which are needed to follow. Firstly, in Japan, case studies, baseline surveys, and farmers interviews will be done to support objective of finding out the currently practiced optimal techniques in rice production. This study will take around 4 months to complete and summary of the finding and draft report of case studies will be done after it. Also, I will take part in transplanting with local farmers in Japan in order to gain a better understanding of rice production and their reactions to the current techniques. Secondly, another part of research will be carried out in Cambodia to figure out the most optimal and favorable techniques employed by local farmers in rice production. The study in Cambodia will take Prepared by KHEM Borin

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approximately 3 months to complete in interview with 75 households from three provinces, namely Battambang, Kampong Thom and Takeo which is 25 households for each province. Both stages relate with farmers interview; hence, properly designed questionnaires will be done and the cooperation from the stakeholders at this stage is vitally important. And the last stage of this research is to analyze the data gathered from the two countries. This will take one month to complete because the comparison between the two proportions of data will be analyzed. This study will cover only on main wet season rice because rice in Cambodia is mainly produced in this season. Data which will be used to complete this research is broken into two types and certain statistical analysis will be executed, too.

Pri mary Data

It is definitely essential to gather the primary data by means of interviewing local farmers and stakeholders. To get as reliable data as possible, questionnaires will be carefully designed to meet the objective of the study. Information to collect includes seed selection, land preparation, transplanting, caring, fertilizer application, pest control and harvesting techniques. To fulfill the objective, direct observation in the field is also included to gather primary data. In terms of sample, a random selection will be performed; however, there will also be guidance from the stakeholder such as Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF) from Japan. Having done that, I will be able to select the right target. In addition, the targets of this research are local farmers practicing optimal techniques in rice production and several staff from MAFF in both countries. Secondary Data

For secondary data, it can be found from many sources and the documents which could be considered are related with agricultural development especially rice production and farmers’ awareness on the importance of optimal techniques in rice production. 

Annual reports from MAFF of Cambodia and Japan will be collected and reviewed to gain a basic understanding on agricultural sector in both countries.

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The current policies on agricultural sectors published by MAFF of Cambodia and Japan as well as by other institutions will be carefully accumulated and reviewed.

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Online journal and findings are also necessary to meet the objective of the research.

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Findings through research by previous researchers and scientists will be taken into consideration. And a careful review will be done. In particular, in order to justify my research, these sources of documents will be collected.


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Data Anal ysis Techni ques

After collecting information by means of farmers’ interview, data will be inserted into computer program. Certain statistical techniques will be used to identify the issue and to meet the objective of the study. Since this study is aimed to describe the optimal techniques currently employed by Cambodia and Japan, most data will be analyzed to figure out means and to explain the process.

V. Dissertation and presentation This is an important phase because finding from this research will be raised for comments and feedbacks to make it good and acceptable. There will be a presentation within some universities to gain constructive feedbacks on this research. Then it will be finalized and as a result be published. The result of this result will be shared with policy makers, researchers and agronomists.


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Master Research Proposal

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