This project (ASEM/2000/109 - Farming systems research for crop diversification in Cambodia and Australia) has been a collaborative effort of researchers at the Cambodian Agricultural Research and Development Institute (CARDI) and New South Wales Department of Primary Industries (NSW DPI). The Cambodian priority was to increase focus on non-rice upland crops for the purpose of poverty reduction. Crop intensification and diversification were priorities for CARDI research. The Australian priority was to examine cultural and crop choice dimensions for crops other than wheat in northern NSW. The parallels in these priorities allowed a common theme of activities in each country which could be serviced by the project team. Specific objectives of the project were to: 1. Identify and overcome constraints to the adoption of non-rice upland crops in Cambodia and non-cereal crops in north-eastern Australia by analysis of on-farm data and experimentation 2. Develop simple diagnostic and analysis tools that farmers and advisers can use to monitor the performance of their crops and how they fit into the farming system 3. Produce appropriately packaged technical and financial information. In Cambodia, a total of 153 on-farm experiments and demonstrations were conducted between 2004 and 2006: variety evaluation (43); insect pest and disease (19); reduced tillage (22); agronomy & farming systems (69). This work has impacted significantly on the CARDI approach to research in the uplands. A significant response to inoculation of rhizobium on legumes was identified during the Project research, and rhizobium inoculation techniques have been demonstrated to advisers in Cambodia. A rapid soil nitrate test has also been demonstrated to advisers and tested on 100 on-farm sites in Cambodia. Field guides were produced for insect pest and weed identification in upland crops as well as Field Crop Manuals for soybean and maize in Cambodia. A 60 page book was also produced on gross margin analyses and general marketing information for the 6 focus crops in Cambodia is under preparation. This information could potentially impact on the economic improvement of on-farm profitability leading to poverty reduction.

A weed identification guide for farmers and extension workers in the upland cropping systems of Cambodia. Sponsored by the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research, the NSW Department of Primary Industries, and the Cambodian Agricultural Research and Development Institute. This book is part of a series of publications produced by ACIAR in support of the on-going rollout of on-farm demonstrations for upland crops in Cambodia.

Cambodia has achieved food security with respect to rice production and now has an opportunity to pay more attention to boosting production of upland crops such as maize (corn), soybean, sesame, mungbean, cassava, peanut and cowpea. While rice remains the main crop in Cambodia, the production of other crops is undergoing a rapid expansion and will be especially important for the development of those parts of the Kingdom unsuited to lowland rice. We present results from socio-economic surveys carried out in the Battambang, Kampong Cham and Takeo Provinces to identify available resources, management practices and key constraints for emerging upland cropping systems. These are mainly cash crops, so the important issues to consider are profitability, technological and management changes, and household and social issues. The surveys were conducted in the Districts of Kamrieng, Sampov Lun, Rotonak Mondol and Banan in Battambang Province, Chamkar Leu, Ou Reang Ov and Tbong Khmum in Kampong Cham Province, and Tramkak in Takeo Province. Sample sizes were 181 in Battambang and Kampong Cham, and 50 in Takeo. Generally farm families had a male head aged in the mid-40s, with 3 to 4 years of schooling. However, there are significant numbers of female farmers among survey respondents. Family size averaged 5 to 6 persons; with 2 to 3 being dependents and levels of off-farm work very low. Average farm size was 2 to 8 ha, and capital items owned included draft animals, ox carts and mouldboard ploughs, as well as tractors and disc ploughs in some areas. The main reasons given for not growing crops were poor yield performance, lack of knowledge (especially about insects), concerns about profitability, land/soil constraints, labour/equipment issues, and agronomic and climate risk (including drought). These results point to the need for focused research on new technologies and management as they affect crop yields and profits, and for increased extension of this information to Cambodian farmers.

The purpose of this book is to help extension workers and farmers to identify plants that are weeds or are considered to have the potential to become weeds in the upland cropping systems of Cambodia. Not all of the plants included are currently regarded as weeds, and many of them have useful purposes. However, with changing agricultural practices such as reduced or zero tillage, plant species currently controlled by ploughing could become weeds. These include perennial species and those with underground stems and rhizomes. Some important species known to be weeds of upland crops have not been included in this volume because of our inability to identify them or to obtain suitable photographic images. These will be included in a future revised edition.

Many Cambodian farmers grow soybean crops. Problems occur when insect pests infest these crops. Among the worst pests are green vegetable bugs, which suck the sap from soybean pods. Farmers often turn to pesticides, but they do not always use them safely because the labels are usually not written in the local language, Khmer. As a result, many farmers are unsure of how much chemical to use or how often they need to spray their crops. They also don't know what protective clothing to wear or what precautions to take to avoid contaminating themselves and the environment. The problem is made worse because few farmers regularly tend their crops to check if the insects they can see are actually causing damage. Instead, they spray all insects. This can cause more harm than good if beneficial insects that eat crop pests are also killed. This story, set in the village of Samlaut in north-western Cambodia, is about an alternative to excessive spraying of soybean and other crops. Called integrated pest management (IPM), it can reduce the need for pesticides to control insects in crops.

The objective of this work was to determine if mung-bean, peanut and soybean respond to rhizobial inoculation under rainfed upland conditions in Cambodia and to compare the response to inoculation with application of a nitrogenous fertiliser. The effect of rhizobial inoculation and fertiliser nitrogen on nodulation and yield of mungbean, peanut and soybean under rainfed upland conditions was studied in a series of 28 experiments in 2004, 2005, and 2006 in the provinces of Kampong Cham and Battambang, Cambodia. Sites were selected on the two main soil groups used for upland crop production: Kompong Siem (vertosol) and Labansiek (ferrosol). Commercial inoculum containing 'Bradyrhizobium' strains specific to the three crops was obtained from Australia. The experiments were of factorial design with two levels of inoculum (nil, plus) and three levels of nitrogen as Urea (0. 40 and 80 kg N/ha) in a split-plot design with three replicates.

In upland areas during the rainy season, farmers generally attempt to grow several upland crops including maize, sesame, mungbean, soybean, peanut and cowpea. The first is planted in March-April and the second in July-August. Farmer workshops have provided us with a better understanding of traditional practices and problems associated with growing and marketing upland crops in Cambodia. The most commonly given reason for growing a crop is good market demand. High price for the product and ease of production are of equal importance. Low cost of seeds or inputs and medium or high yield potential are also important. Short duration is an important consideration for early wet season crops. The most commonly given reason for not growing the crop is damage from insect pests, followed by risk of crop failure, drought or natural disaster, and high cost of seed and other inputs. From the above observations, the following priorities for further research have been prioritized.