Environmental research

VRA was conducted on 26th December 2010 at Maha Knoung commune, Koh Sotin district, Kampong Cham province with 25 participants, 4 women, from 8 of 22 villages of the Maha Kngoung and Prek Tanong communes. According to the VRA findings, most of the villagers are experiencing a range of adverse impacts from CC, i.e., prolonged, more frequent and irregular drought and flooding in the last 3 to 5 years, with the events happened 2 to 3 times a year. More rainfall is, however noted to occur at the end of rainy season, causing damage to yet to be harvested crops and physical infrastructure including health issues with human and livestock. The poor awareness and capacity of local people, particularly in agricultural production, are cited a constraint for effective adaption to climate extreme, particularly drought. To respond to the problems above, the project proposed a number of actions including: 1) Repair of one sluice gate and a dike, and building 2 new sluice gates and a 350 m distribution channel to provide water for rice irrigation in both wet and dry seasons; 2) Provision of training for target community members on improved agricultural technologies that are climate resilient such as vegetable growing and SRI, chicken, duck, pig, and fish raising, and composting through collaboration with Kampong Cham DoA and DoWRAM to ensure that farmers improve their capacity to adapt to CC effects. The project will also facilitate for awareness raising in 22 villages of CC and its impacts in order for them to better prepared for any climate event; and 3) Support for more loan for the community to expand their livelihood activities through self-help groups and provision of capacity of management committee, and women in particular, establishment of 2 rice banks at Prek Tanong and Maha Knoung communes. Awareness campaign on impacts of application of chemical fertilizers and pesticides on soil, biodiversity, health and environment will be held to discourage and displace their use and turn to compost or manure. Rice banks will be established in the target villages along with provision of training on loan management and how it can be used to effectively address issue of water, seed and food shortages. 1.2 Project goal The project aims to ensure villagers in the target area have access to sufficient water and its effective management for food production. 1.3 Project outcome Outcome 1.0: Access by 2,983 farmers, 1,555 women, from 687 households in 8 villages to sufficient water in Prek Khaol for irrigating 431 ha dry season rice and for an expanded 500 ha dry season rice on currently idle land. Outcome 2.0: Livelihood of farmers in Prek Tanong and Maha Knoung communes improved through increase in rice yield from 2.5 to 3.5 tonnes per hectare with climate resistant rice varieties and through saving groups. 1.3 Key outputs Output 1.1 (Outcome 1): A functional reservoir management committee established with 11 members, 5 women, and is recognized by local authorities and Kampong Cham provincial DoWRAM; Output 1.2 (Outcome 1): Three sluice gates, a culvert, a 150 m dike, and a 300 m water distribution channel, 1.5 m deep, 1.5 m top width and 0.8 m bottom width, built and repaired where appropriate, to secure access by 687 households to sufficient water for irrigating 431 ha rice at the end of wet season and in the dry season; Output 2.1 (Outcome 2): Sufficient food is secured for 150 farmers, 50 women, from 32 households in Pre Tanong and Maha Knoung communes, through increased rice yield from 2.5 to 3.5 tonnes per hectare with SRI. Output 2.2 (Outcome 2): Two self-help groups established in Pre Tanong and Maha Knoung communes, each participated by 30 households; and Output 2.3 (Outcome 2): Monitoring and Evaluation results. 1.4 Key project activities Output 1.1 (Outcome 1) Activities - Meeting with local villagers in the target area in collaboration with provincial DoWRAM and local authorities to announce the engagement of local villagers in water user community in each village of the two communes, identifying criteria for selection, and conducting election of WUC management committee in 8 villages, 5 members for each management committee; - Meeting with 400 Water User Community (WUC) members in 8 villages of the 2 communes to conduct election for WUC management committees for the two communes; - Provision of training for the members of the WUC committees and sub-committees on general management, financial administration and report writing; - Development of internal regulation and by-law of the WUCs in the 2 communes; - Development of agreements and management and water allocation plans for WUCs in the two communes; - Organizing consultation workshop to discuss over the draft by-law, internal regulation, agreement, and management plans for each WUC; - Development of physical maps of WUCs in the two communes; - Establishment of patrol teams and provision of necessary equipment for effective patrolling; - Monitoring visits to provide coaching and mentoring on report writing and planning for the WUC management committees and patrol teams; and - Installation of information boards and posting information on the project. Output 1.2 (Outcome 1) Activities - Organizing bidding for qualified contractors for canal rehabilitation and building sluice gates in coordination with provincial DoWRAM, and local authority, particularly commune procurement committees; - Establishing agreements with winning contractor to implement the rehabili

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