On 23-24 October 2008, a senior-staff meeting was organized under the facilitation by Dr. Yang Saing Koma, the president of CEDAC. The meeting aimed to strengthen the capacity and knowledge of leadership skill.
Participants have watched the film of Gandhi in order to do reflection of his leadership. At the end of the meeting, all participants have learned well about the leadership skill especially we have reflected to what we have done and got some critial idea to improve the cooperation among each other effectively.
Friday, October 24, 2008
Saturday, October 18, 2008
My visit to Svay Rieng
On October 16, 2008 I was in Svay Rieng province to provide the support to Mr. San Sorn, the farmer community facilitator of the project “Improvement of the most Vulnerable Families for protection of human trafficking and unsafe migration”.
1. Review the activity work plan of October 2008
The monthly work plan was reviewed during my presence in Svay Rieng, normally we discussed to determine which activities have being done on tract and which activities are not being implemented yet and which reasons.
-It is to note that the number of interested farmers is only 335, so the project needs to select other 465 farmers to fulfill 800 total beneficiaries.
-So far, the project has organized 5 group training for the experimented farmers with the participation of 141 (97 women).
-24 key farmers were selected, the total expected key farmers will be selected is 42, in other word, 3 key farmers per village.
In total, 45% of the monthly activity plan has achieved starting from 01-16 October 2008. Therefore, we hopefully the rest of the activities will be completed on time as we have other 2 weeks for operation.
2. Individual interview and group training for experimented farmers
At the same day, I have interviewed 2 farmers, in Thom village, Thnot commune, Kompong Ror district, Svay Rieng province, who are suitable to select as key farmers. Generally, we have interviewed them about their understanding on the project, the agricultural techniques and their commitment to work as key farmers.
Additionally, we have visited the farms developed by those farmers in order to see their practice recently. We could observe that one of them is conducting a good practice in term of preparing vegetable garden and the farm of another one is not good due to the effect of flood.
Later on, we have organized one-group training for approximately 20 experimented farmers on the topic of introduction to vegetable production. The main topics of the training are illustrated as below:
-Advantages of growing vegetable and economic analysis
-Reading the case studied from farmer magazine related to vegetable production of a good farmer
-Method of producing solid compost and liquid compost
-The next training will be in-detail
The project staff will more often to conduct individual follow-up advice to those above interested farmers to improve their innovations practice. A few among them are the potential farmers who are able to play role as key farmers.
1. Review the activity work plan of October 2008
The monthly work plan was reviewed during my presence in Svay Rieng, normally we discussed to determine which activities have being done on tract and which activities are not being implemented yet and which reasons.
-It is to note that the number of interested farmers is only 335, so the project needs to select other 465 farmers to fulfill 800 total beneficiaries.
-So far, the project has organized 5 group training for the experimented farmers with the participation of 141 (97 women).
-24 key farmers were selected, the total expected key farmers will be selected is 42, in other word, 3 key farmers per village.
In total, 45% of the monthly activity plan has achieved starting from 01-16 October 2008. Therefore, we hopefully the rest of the activities will be completed on time as we have other 2 weeks for operation.
2. Individual interview and group training for experimented farmers
At the same day, I have interviewed 2 farmers, in Thom village, Thnot commune, Kompong Ror district, Svay Rieng province, who are suitable to select as key farmers. Generally, we have interviewed them about their understanding on the project, the agricultural techniques and their commitment to work as key farmers.
Additionally, we have visited the farms developed by those farmers in order to see their practice recently. We could observe that one of them is conducting a good practice in term of preparing vegetable garden and the farm of another one is not good due to the effect of flood.
Later on, we have organized one-group training for approximately 20 experimented farmers on the topic of introduction to vegetable production. The main topics of the training are illustrated as below:
-Advantages of growing vegetable and economic analysis
-Reading the case studied from farmer magazine related to vegetable production of a good farmer
-Method of producing solid compost and liquid compost
-The next training will be in-detail
The project staff will more often to conduct individual follow-up advice to those above interested farmers to improve their innovations practice. A few among them are the potential farmers who are able to play role as key farmers.
3. Preparation of agricultural output-based
Finally, we have discussed together with Mr. San Sorn about the expected output of the project in term of adoption of technical innovations. (Please see the annex table)
By doing so, we could know clear what do we expect to achieve in which timeframe.
4. General Conclusion
Generally, we could conclude that around 45% of the project’s activities are achieved during a half month of October. Hopefully, the project staff will be able to complete all the expected activities on time. Additionally, we could note that the project activity is moving forward, for instance we have organized 5 group training sessions for the experimented farmers so that the number of farmers who apply innovations will be accelerated simultaneously.
At the present, we could see that some farmers have improved their agricultural practice after the exposure visit to Prey Veng. In reality, some farmers have improved the vegetable seedbed and how to select a good seed.
3. Recommendation
Come up from the result of the visit, the following recommendations are taken into account:
-The project staff should allocate more time for the individual follow-up and one-to-one conversation with the cooperating farmers in order to increase their attention to agricultural practice.
-The project staff should invite representatives from department of women’s affairs to join the project planning and quarterly monitoring as it is time to do that.
-The learning materials especially the leaflets and posters of pesticide should be widely distributed to farmers in the project’s targeted area of Svay Rieng province as they use much amount of chemical pesticide for the IR rice variety. It will help to raise their understanding on negative impact of chemical pesticide to health, environment and economy.
-The project staff should copy VCD relating to technical innovations such as SRI, vegetable growing, ECR, etc to distribute to at least key farmers and other main farmers in order to disseminate the message of agricultural innovations. Majority of farmers are interested in watching and the VCD player is accessible in the villages.
-The exposure visit for the interested farmers in Prey Veng province should be organized soon so that those farmers can learn and apply at the same time as farmers in Svay Rieng.
Finally, we have discussed together with Mr. San Sorn about the expected output of the project in term of adoption of technical innovations. (Please see the annex table)
By doing so, we could know clear what do we expect to achieve in which timeframe.
4. General Conclusion
Generally, we could conclude that around 45% of the project’s activities are achieved during a half month of October. Hopefully, the project staff will be able to complete all the expected activities on time. Additionally, we could note that the project activity is moving forward, for instance we have organized 5 group training sessions for the experimented farmers so that the number of farmers who apply innovations will be accelerated simultaneously.
At the present, we could see that some farmers have improved their agricultural practice after the exposure visit to Prey Veng. In reality, some farmers have improved the vegetable seedbed and how to select a good seed.
3. Recommendation
Come up from the result of the visit, the following recommendations are taken into account:
-The project staff should allocate more time for the individual follow-up and one-to-one conversation with the cooperating farmers in order to increase their attention to agricultural practice.
-The project staff should invite representatives from department of women’s affairs to join the project planning and quarterly monitoring as it is time to do that.
-The learning materials especially the leaflets and posters of pesticide should be widely distributed to farmers in the project’s targeted area of Svay Rieng province as they use much amount of chemical pesticide for the IR rice variety. It will help to raise their understanding on negative impact of chemical pesticide to health, environment and economy.
-The project staff should copy VCD relating to technical innovations such as SRI, vegetable growing, ECR, etc to distribute to at least key farmers and other main farmers in order to disseminate the message of agricultural innovations. Majority of farmers are interested in watching and the VCD player is accessible in the villages.
-The exposure visit for the interested farmers in Prey Veng province should be organized soon so that those farmers can learn and apply at the same time as farmers in Svay Rieng.
Friday, October 10, 2008
Workshop on Drip Irrigation
Today on 10 October 2008, I have participated in the workshop on Drip Irrigation in Phnom Penh. The workshop organized by IDE with 40 participants from different 25 NGOs. The agenda is presented as follows:
-Summary of drip irrigation pilot project
-Result of drip irrigation trial
-Supplay chain and partnership strategies
-Presentation of experienced drip farmers
-Open discussion and feedback
-Summary of drip irrigation pilot project
-Result of drip irrigation trial
-Supplay chain and partnership strategies
-Presentation of experienced drip farmers
-Open discussion and feedback
In summary, based on the information i got from the workshop, i could learn that:
-The yield of vegetable which adopted drip irrigation is higher than non-drip irrigation, but i could see that it is not quite different. Additionally, I could learn that it save 50% of water comparing to traditional practice, so it is good if we introduce drip irrigation in the dry season. Farmers will be able to prolong their cropping season and it is a profitable time.
-IDE has some cooperating farmers who have already adopted drip irrigation technique so that it is available if we would like to organize the field visit to see the experienced farmers.
-In the concept of CEDAC, we can introduce the idea of drip irrigation to farmers, but we will not introduce chemical fertilize as IDE has been doing. The liquid compost and solid compost will be trained in stead of promoting chemical fertilizer.
-The price of one set of drip irrigation is about 50$, so it may be expensive to the poorest families, but the medium farmers are probably possible if they really want to try. I have noticed that drip irrigation is suitable for fruit crops, but not leaf crops.
-The yield of vegetable which adopted drip irrigation is higher than non-drip irrigation, but i could see that it is not quite different. Additionally, I could learn that it save 50% of water comparing to traditional practice, so it is good if we introduce drip irrigation in the dry season. Farmers will be able to prolong their cropping season and it is a profitable time.
-IDE has some cooperating farmers who have already adopted drip irrigation technique so that it is available if we would like to organize the field visit to see the experienced farmers.
-In the concept of CEDAC, we can introduce the idea of drip irrigation to farmers, but we will not introduce chemical fertilize as IDE has been doing. The liquid compost and solid compost will be trained in stead of promoting chemical fertilizer.
-The price of one set of drip irrigation is about 50$, so it may be expensive to the poorest families, but the medium farmers are probably possible if they really want to try. I have noticed that drip irrigation is suitable for fruit crops, but not leaf crops.
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
Coordinating Team Meeting of Field Program
22-24 September 2008, CEDAC has organized a monthly coordinating team meeting of field program (FNP) with the participation of 20 staff, among them 3 are women, the meeting venue was held at the office of ILFARM-Kagn Chreach in the provincial town of Prey Veng. The purpose of the meeting was to share the progress of the development projects have been implementing by FNP, preparation of specific action plan for the next month, and consultation on cooperation among the relevant projects of FNP and other CEDAC’s components such as CILD and CC, etc.
Definitely, the field visit was included in the meeting program, totally 5 farmers in Baphnom district were met and interviewed in term of livelihood impact after cooperation with CEDAC’s projects, the interviewees are included 2 people living with HIV/AIDS in Prey Phdao village of Sdao Koang commune, 2 women farmers of vegetable farmer producer group in Tuol Phpuos village, Chheu Kach commune, another one farmer is the seller of the farmer’s community shop in Chheu Kach market.
As the result of the meeting, the participants have learned effectively the practical experience from different development projects belong to FNP and they have discussed actively the strategic approach of SRI extension which included the attention to the participatory action research on System of Rice Intensification (SRI), and the participants have finally discussed on setting up of internal Monitoring and Evaluation for FNP as it is strongly needed.
Definitely, the field visit was included in the meeting program, totally 5 farmers in Baphnom district were met and interviewed in term of livelihood impact after cooperation with CEDAC’s projects, the interviewees are included 2 people living with HIV/AIDS in Prey Phdao village of Sdao Koang commune, 2 women farmers of vegetable farmer producer group in Tuol Phpuos village, Chheu Kach commune, another one farmer is the seller of the farmer’s community shop in Chheu Kach market.
As the result of the meeting, the participants have learned effectively the practical experience from different development projects belong to FNP and they have discussed actively the strategic approach of SRI extension which included the attention to the participatory action research on System of Rice Intensification (SRI), and the participants have finally discussed on setting up of internal Monitoring and Evaluation for FNP as it is strongly needed.
Monday, September 22, 2008
Field Mission to Ratanakiri province
It is totally 588 km from Phnom Penh to Ratanakiri province on the national road 7 and 13, and this is a part of the road to Ratanakiri province, which situated near the provincial town. Some parts along the road are difficult for traveling, especially in Kon Mom district. It was lucky to see the rainbow while travelling.
We are among the project's staff of ALDI travelling to Taveng and Andong Meas districts of Ratanakiri province, both districts are the project's targeted area. The purpose of our travel was to see the progress of agricultural technical innovations adopted/adapted by the cooperating farmers under the project's extension activities.
We are among the project's staff of ALDI travelling to Taveng and Andong Meas districts of Ratanakiri province, both districts are the project's targeted area. The purpose of our travel was to see the progress of agricultural technical innovations adopted/adapted by the cooperating farmers under the project's extension activities.
Saturday, September 13, 2008
Rice transplanting in Kompong Ror district, Svay Rieng province
From 10-12 September 2008, I went to Chantrea and Kompong Ror districts of svay rieng provicne, i observed that there are much raining water in the rice field and farmers are busy for rice transplanting. In this year, farmers in Svay Rieng seemed to be late in transplanting the rice due to have no enough raining water at the beginning of the season. Along the road within the villages of Thnot commune, some farmers asked me to borrow some money because they considered as the MFI staff, they just wanted to borrow some money to spend for the payment of chemical fertilizer and pesticide. It is to note farmers in the area use much chemical pesticide and fertilizer for the rice production, so the production cost is so high and the benefit is less and they confront to disease effected by chemical pesticide to their health and environment contamination.
Sharing what i have learned from the book "Self-Discipline"
Today, on 13 September 2008, i presented what i have learned from a book, named "Self-Discipline" to the other colleagues who work for CEDAC, those are the project's staff of SfR (Saving for Self-Reliance). i think that it was a good opportunity for me to share what i have learned to the others. I feel to learn more after the presentation, i could know their feeling about the meaning of my presenation. I note that most of them are likely to be interested in Hyde (A part of ourselves that does not want self-discipline), and they also could learn and review the daily plan so that they can achieve more accomplishment and generate more extra free time for ding other things. I have shared the slide of my presenation to most of them and i hope that it will help them to learn well about this book.
Friday, September 12, 2008
Participated in the Training on PRISM
From 01-05 September 2008, I have participated in the training on PRISM (Poverty Reduction through Irrigation and Smallholder Markets), the training was organized by IDE (International Development Enterprises) in Phnom Penh. It is to note that i have learned about the process of PRISM, including:
- Situational analysis
- Intervention design
- Implementing and monitoring
- Evaluation and adaptation
The training enabled to learn more the concept and other main tools for business activity. it is helpful to my work with the project Linking Farmers with Market for Rural Prosperity. What i gained from the training will help me to work effectively to link the vegetable farmer producers to the local markets inside the project's targeted area.
- Situational analysis
- Intervention design
- Implementing and monitoring
- Evaluation and adaptation
The training enabled to learn more the concept and other main tools for business activity. it is helpful to my work with the project Linking Farmers with Market for Rural Prosperity. What i gained from the training will help me to work effectively to link the vegetable farmer producers to the local markets inside the project's targeted area.
Participated in the Training on PRISM
From 01-05 September 2008, I have participated in the training on PRISM (Poverty Reduction through Irrigation and Smallholder Markets), the training was organized by IDE (International Development Enterprises) in Phnom Penh. It is to note that i have learned about the process of PRISM, including:
- Situational analysis
- Intervention design
- Implementing and monitoring
- Evaluation and adaptation
The training enabled to learn more the concept and other main tools for business activity. it is helpful to my work with the project Linking Farmers with Market for Rural Prosperity. What i gained from the training will help me to work effectively to link the vegetable farmer producers to the local markets inside the project's targeted area.
- Situational analysis
- Intervention design
- Implementing and monitoring
- Evaluation and adaptation
The training enabled to learn more the concept and other main tools for business activity. it is helpful to my work with the project Linking Farmers with Market for Rural Prosperity. What i gained from the training will help me to work effectively to link the vegetable farmer producers to the local markets inside the project's targeted area.
Saturday, August 30, 2008
National Conference on Livestock Production at Royal Academic of Cambodia
On 28-29 August 2008, I and Mr. Kin Mengse have attended the national conference on livestock production at Royal Academic of Cambodia. We were also invited to be the speakers among the others during conference. The topics we have presented as the ecological chicken raising (ECR) and the project that we are implementing, named Avian Influenza Behavior Change (AIBC). It is to note that the purpose of the conference is to find out the strategy of promoting livestock production in Cambodia. There were many different participants joint the conference such as small-scale farmers, commercial farmers, students, lecturers for universities, government officials, NGOs, etc participated actively in the conference. H.E.Dr. Chan Sarun, minister of ministry of agriculture, was presided the conference. 14 speakers were invited to present their topics one-by-one, those topics are involved of the issue of livestock in Cambodia, including the production process and market opportunity. Several highlighted topics are indicated as follows:
- General situation of livestock production in Cambodia, policy, constraints and strategy
- Nutrients composition in animal feed
- Ecological Chicken Raising (ECR)
- Avian Influenza -Experience of extension on Avian Influenza
- Bio-digester
- Problem faced by the pig association
- Experience of raising pig - Bio-security in pig farm and
- Etc
After participation of this conference for one day and a half, I could learn something new as follows:
- I could know that Cambodia in fact has good potential to increase the agricultural production for market supply meanwhile the exported agricultural products from Vietnam and Thailand are hugely imported, this is to indicate that the domestic products is not enough for the demand. However, we need to ensure that a good condition of agricultural production especially for the small-scale farmers should be enlarged. For example, Cambodian producers is facing to highly expense on external agricultural inputs so that they can not sell their product at lower price comparing to the products exported from neighboring countries that being sold at the lower price than domestic products. Can you guess why? Because the input supply for the production is not cost much in our country.
- I could note about the problems facing by the pig farmer association to say that they can produce pigs but there are nobody come to buy their pigs. To me, I think that this is because of they only play role as the pig producers by doing so that they are not able to control the whole process of market chain. For example, if they have their own slaughter house, they may be able to sell their pig, they can sell meat instead of live pigs, not the live pigs. The pig association should expand their marketing strategy to sell their products for the market.
- I understand that animal feed is a very big opportunity for business even though there are some companies are promoting their produced feed to consumers. Most of farmer producers need productive feed for the growth of their animals especially the commercial farms, but those feeds are the external inputs so that it is not good to serve the benefit of domestic feed producers. If we can train farmers to produce their own feed so that we can help to improve the family agriculture, or we can produce the additional animal feed that is fit to the condition of those families.
- One among 5 recommendations to the royal government of Cambodia is to recommend that the RGC should provide incentives support to farmers such as animal breeds, seeds, etc. I think that such recommendation is not good to make farmers to be self-reliant. I think that it is better if we don’t provide them the seed, breed but farmers themselves are affordable to buy those inputs. The importance is in fact the knowledge and spirit of changing from subsistence farmers to commercial farmers, if they really want to change, they really can do by them own.
- To me, think that it is really good if the problem of farmer producers is the common problem of the royal government of Cambodia. If so, it will help to speed up the solution effectively. Additionally, the extension government officials should be strengthened in term of the knowledge and capacity of sustainable agricultural extension with a better policy support to their work.
- General situation of livestock production in Cambodia, policy, constraints and strategy
- Nutrients composition in animal feed
- Ecological Chicken Raising (ECR)
- Avian Influenza -Experience of extension on Avian Influenza
- Bio-digester
- Problem faced by the pig association
- Experience of raising pig - Bio-security in pig farm and
- Etc
After participation of this conference for one day and a half, I could learn something new as follows:
- I could know that Cambodia in fact has good potential to increase the agricultural production for market supply meanwhile the exported agricultural products from Vietnam and Thailand are hugely imported, this is to indicate that the domestic products is not enough for the demand. However, we need to ensure that a good condition of agricultural production especially for the small-scale farmers should be enlarged. For example, Cambodian producers is facing to highly expense on external agricultural inputs so that they can not sell their product at lower price comparing to the products exported from neighboring countries that being sold at the lower price than domestic products. Can you guess why? Because the input supply for the production is not cost much in our country.
- I could note about the problems facing by the pig farmer association to say that they can produce pigs but there are nobody come to buy their pigs. To me, I think that this is because of they only play role as the pig producers by doing so that they are not able to control the whole process of market chain. For example, if they have their own slaughter house, they may be able to sell their pig, they can sell meat instead of live pigs, not the live pigs. The pig association should expand their marketing strategy to sell their products for the market.
- I understand that animal feed is a very big opportunity for business even though there are some companies are promoting their produced feed to consumers. Most of farmer producers need productive feed for the growth of their animals especially the commercial farms, but those feeds are the external inputs so that it is not good to serve the benefit of domestic feed producers. If we can train farmers to produce their own feed so that we can help to improve the family agriculture, or we can produce the additional animal feed that is fit to the condition of those families.
- One among 5 recommendations to the royal government of Cambodia is to recommend that the RGC should provide incentives support to farmers such as animal breeds, seeds, etc. I think that such recommendation is not good to make farmers to be self-reliant. I think that it is better if we don’t provide them the seed, breed but farmers themselves are affordable to buy those inputs. The importance is in fact the knowledge and spirit of changing from subsistence farmers to commercial farmers, if they really want to change, they really can do by them own.
- To me, think that it is really good if the problem of farmer producers is the common problem of the royal government of Cambodia. If so, it will help to speed up the solution effectively. Additionally, the extension government officials should be strengthened in term of the knowledge and capacity of sustainable agricultural extension with a better policy support to their work.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)