Integrated Farm Management

Most Cambodian households depend on agriculture for their living:

• rice -40 percent of all agricultural output
• other crops - 20 per cent
• livestock farming - 27 per cent
• fisheries - 10 per cent
• forestry - 3 per cent.

Integrating selected farming systems utilises a range of natural resources that benefit farming as a whole, and individual rural families in particular. Integrated farming increases both a family's food diversity and income.

Using fallow land around homes and rice fields combines production in a sustainable and beneficial way. For example, combining livestock, fruit and vegetable production, gives households direct access to important nutrients that are currently unavailable or beyond economic reach.

Content:

The course includes one-and-a-half days of practical work and demonstrations, daily discussion groups, and evaluation by trainer and trainees alike.

i) Multi-purpose systems

fish and crop – using pond mud as crop fertiliser
pig and fish – constructing pig pen over part of the pond
fish and rice – field preparation and stocking with fingerlings
duck and fish – meat production and poultry pen construction
fish and chicken – use of chicken manure

ii) Vegetable growing

• Importance of vegetable production; benefits and demand
• Soil fertility and maintenance – cultivation, sowing and planting
• Making and using compost and other natural fertilisers
• Weed and pest control
• Beneficial crop rotations
• Harvesting and storage
• Benefits from integration with other farming systems
• Long term planning and financial management

iii) Rice production

• Soil and seed preparation and sowing
• Seedling maintenance and transplanting
• Weed and pest control
• Harvesting and post-harvest care and storage
• Seed storage
• Integration with other farming systems
• Long term planning and financial management

iv) Chicken raising

• Chicken biology
• Breed selection
• Basic poultry farming techniques
• Fowl house, cage and chicken coop construction
• Feeding and using additives for good health
• Disease prevention
• Integration with other systems
• Investment, income projections and financial planning

v) Fish farming

• Pond site selection – soil type and water source
• Pond preparation and construction
• Fish species selection – tilaya fish, carmon carp, silver carp
• Feed types and feeding
• The role of plankton
• Pond and fish management
• Access and regular use of the water by other animals
• Harvesting

Outcomes

• have a good knowledge of several different farming systems
• understand systems integration to make more productive use of their land – creating new income and greater food security
• demonstrate profitable agricultural diversity and integration in their community