Farmers' resource endowment and risk management affect agricultural practices and innovation capacity in the Northwestern uplands of Cambodia

Abstract

CONTEXTThe Northwestern uplands of Cambodia underwent a massive land conversion from forest to agriculture over the last 15 years. OBJECTIVEOur study conducted in Rotonak Mondol District, Battambang Province aimed at understanding farm diversity, trajectory, performance and capacity to innovate in order to identify effective interventions in a rapidly changing pioneer front. METHODSBased on a survey of 365 randomly selected households, we identified 4 main farm types by a combination of Principal Component Analysis and Cluster Analysis. The survey was complemented with detailed analyses of resource use, labor management, economic productivity and adoption of innovative practices on 95 households. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONSThe livelihood of Paddy Farms (20%) is centered on a rice-cattle combination with off-farm activities and annual upland crop farming providing cash income. The Large Farms (20%) specialize in intensive and mechanized upland crops, including orchards. The Small Farms (25%) have a diverse activity portfolio including paddy, annual upland crops, and off-farm activities. The livelihood of the Off-Farm type (35%) is largely based on low-income off-farm activities. We identified the time of arrival, initial cash and labor, relationship with local authorities, and/or social connections as key factors determining farm structures and livelihoods. This, in turn, determined farm capacities to accumulate resources during the maize boom that occurred in this region between 2006 and 2011. Based on our analysis of farm diversity, we identified interventions suitable to each farm type and opportunities for on-farm innovation through risk buffering mechanisms and strengthening of social organizations. SIGNIFICANCELike in other pioneer fronts beyond our case study in Cambodia, a reorganization of the agricultural systems is required to support the shift from essentially individualistic behaviors to more concerted actions. The emergence of new institutions, such as farmer groups and cooperatives, can build upon the specific capacity and needs of the different types of farming systems to innovate.