Environmental research

The project is aiming at Increasing Adaptive Capacity of Community in Sna Ansar Commune and Sangkat Banteay Dei through increasing agricultural productivity and rehabilitation and management of community irrigation system. The project is also aiming at Reduce the vulnerability to climate change impacts, including drought by building the capacity of the communities in Sna Ansar Commune and Sangkat Banteay Dei to manage available water resources and irrigation system for agricultural production, conservation of ecosystem and strengthen communities capacity to apply and demonstration of selected adaptation measures. The project is planned for implementation in 2 communities, i.e., Ansor Kdam, Sna Ansar commune, Krakor district, and Keo Muni community, Sangkat Banteay Dei, Pursat city, with a focus on 3 key components as follows: 1. Development of small irrigation scheme to store water for use in agriculture production in the case of drought events and to increase farming seasons. The project is slated to build a sluice gate 6.8 x 5 x 2.5m at Neak Krah reservoir, and install outlet pipes at Ansar Kdam community. The gate can serve to regulate water for use in agriculture by farmers in 8 villages. A sluice gate 10 x 5 x 2.5m would be built and 1,730 m canal rehabilitated in Keo Muni community. Water stored in the facility will be used for farming by 3 villages including Sras Srang, Keo Moni, and Takoy villages. As part of the project implementation, the community will collaborate and consult with commune/ sangkat councils to study detailed plan, bid for service provision, and conduct M of the construction work. Once the facility is built, sign boards will be installed and a management committee (at least 35% of the committee members are women) will be organized, with the participation of community and local authority and by-laws developed and endorsed by commune/ Sangkat chief and competent agencies. 2. Provision of a series of trainings for 60 farmers (at least 35% are women) on integrated rice farming and home gardening using farmer field school approach. The training will be designed in 2 separate parts each lasts for 18 weeks (1 day session/ week) and to be linked with demonstration and household practical work. The project will develop saving groups to whom revolving fund will be provided so that the farmers can make loan for buying rice seeds for piloting in their own field. Moreover, the project will develop experimentation with farmer s participation on high yielded short term rice varieties so that the farmers can accept their preferred varieties for early season farming, i.e., before the start of rainy season rice farming, and thus allowing for 2 rice crops a year. The project will also consult with the Cambodia Agricultural Research and Development Institute (CARDI) to select appropriate varieties for demonstration. The project will also organize events to present findings from the experimentation and to try out with other farmers in and outside of the communities in order to promote sharing of knowledge and information and to gain farmer s interest in adopting techniques farming 2 rice crop a year. The project will collaborate with commune authority and fisheries cantonment to turn Neak Kranh reservoir in Sna Ansar to a community fish refuge in order to enhance fisheries resources at community level and to increase fish catch in rice field as fish is the preferred source of protein for rural people. The project will collaborate with fisheries cantonment to develop fish refuge following the procedure for fish refuge establishment and to gain formal endorsement by competent agencies. 1.2 Project objectives 1. To reduce vulnerability of the community to drought by building water storage facility to support rice farming; and 2. To enhance community capacity to adapt to shocks by natural disasters by increasing farming seasons, and promoting integrated farming, and preservation of natural resources in the community. 1.3 Key expected outputs - 899 households (3,556 people) had access to sufficient water for early season rice farming on 1,009 ha land, and 60 farmers (at least 35% women) received training on rice farming techniques including the introduction of new rice varieties and farming in the early season, home gardening, and fruit trees planting; - 2 communities (Ansor Kdam, Ansar Snar commune, Krakor district, and Keo Muni, Sangkat Banteay Dei, Pursat city) had the capacity to manage the gate built under the project; - 60 farmers (35% women) received higher rice yield and annual income via application of rice farming techniques and home gardening and used appropriate rice varieties resistant to drought; - Neak Kranh reservoir (2 ha) in Sna Ansar commune, Krakor district, developed into as fish refuge and formally recognized by fisheries cantonment and managed by farmer community; - Community fish refuge management committee (at least 35% women) established and recognized by local authority and competent agency (Neak Kranh reservoir, Sna Ansar Commune); - Saving groups established in the 2 communities with revolving fund provided to purchase rice seeds for piloting in farmer field (by 60 trained farmers); - High quality seeds of 5 vegetable varieties provided to farmers are used for piloting in farmer s home garden (60 trained farmers); and - 6 short term rice varieties resistant to drought demonstrated with the participation of farmers. 1.4 Key project s activities To achieve the outputs ab

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