Abstract
Rice is not merely a staple food but an important source of income in Cambodia. Rapid socioeconomic development in the country affects farmers’ management practices, and rice production has increased almost three-fold over two decades. However, detailed information about the recent changes in rice production is quite limited and mainly obtained from interviews and statistical data. Here, we analyzed MODIS LAI data (MCD152H) from 2003 to 2019 to quantify rice production changes in Pursat Province, one of the great rice-producing areas in Cambodia. Although the LAI showed large variations, the data clearly indicate that a major shift occurred in approximately 2010 after applying smoothing methods (i.e., hierarchical clustering and the moving average). This finding is consistent with the results of the interviews with the farmers, which indicate that earlier-maturing cultivars had been adopted. Geographical variations in the LAI pattern were illustrated at points analyzed along a transverse line from the mountainside to the lakeside. Furthermore, areas of dry season cropping were detected by the difference in monthly averaged MODIS LAI data between January and April, which was defined as the dry season rice index (DSRI) in this study. Consequently, three different types of dry season cropping areas were recognized by nonhierarchical clustering of the annual LAI transition. One of the cropping types involved an irrigation-water-receiving area supported by canal construction. The analysis of the peak LAI in the wet and dry seasons suggested that the increase in rice production was different among cropping types and that the stagnation of the improvements and the limitation of water resources are anticipated. This study provides valuable information about differences and changes in rice cropping to construct sustainable and further-improved rice production strategies.
Highlights
IntroductionRice is the principal crop in Cambodia, where it occupies 75 percent of the cultivated land
Phka Rumduol and Riang Chey are photosensitive and have intermediate maturity traits, while Sen Kra Ob, Sen Pidao, and IR varieties are not photosensitive and mature in less than 120 days [13,15]. Another notable finding is that many of the farmers reduced the number of cultivars they grew, and Somaly accounted for a larger proportion as a result (Tables 1 and 2)
The production of dry season (DS) rice improved in 2011, while that of wet season (WS) rice was almost constant. These results suggest that the improvement of WS rice production in the area is restricted by the flood risk
Summary
Rice is the principal crop in Cambodia, where it occupies 75 percent of the cultivated land. It is one of the important industries in Cambodia, since more than 20 percent of working-age people are involved in rice production, processing, and marketing [1]. After achieving self-sufficiency in 1995, the total production of rice in the country has increased three-fold [2], and rice has recently become a promising commodity for export [3]. Promoting rice production is of significant importance to economic development and poverty reduction in Cambodia [4]. The increase in rice production was achieved by the expansion of the cultivation area and improved yield [4]. Limited quantitative information on factors driving the increase in production makes future prospects uncertain
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