IJERD – International Journal of Environmental and Rural Development (2012) 3-2

Research article
erd

The Impact of Changes in Crop-Livestock Interaction inBanteay Chmar Commune, Thmar Puok District, Banteay
Meanchey Province, Cambodia
SOVATNA PHON*
Royal University of Agriculture, Phnom Penh, Cambodia
Email: ruasovatna@yahoo.com

SOPHAK THUNRoyal University of Agriculture, Phnom Penh, Cambodia

LYNA KHAN
Royal University of Agriculture, Phnom Penh, Cambodia

PHANNA NEN
Royal University of Agriculture, Phnom Penh, Cambodia
Received 14 December 2011

Accepted 18 April 2012(*: Corresponding Author)

Abstract Banteay Meanchey Province is located in the northwest of Cambodia with agricultural, tourism, and handicraft economic sectors. The main agriculture products werecrops (rice, cassava and banana) and livestock (cattle, buffalo, pigs and poultry when water is available). In between 750-1,500 families raised livestock for cash income, field operation, transportation and other uses. In the last few years, the number of livestock heads
significantly decreased because of the introduction of hand tractors, lack of feed, and diseases. The observation of such decreases led to a study focused on income flow throughdifferent farming systems, linkages between crop and livestock production and analyzing
strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and the huge challenges in the region. Appropriate
samples were used according to spatial/grid-cell method from Googleearth. GPS was used
to identify the locations based on the grid-cell data. Many tools such as Participatory RuralAppraisal (PRA and Rapid Rural Appraisal (RRA), were included. Local authorities, relevant NGOs such as Economic and Social Relaunch of Northwest Provinces in Cambodia(ECOSORN) and Agricultural Development Denmark Asia (ADDA), agricultural extension workers and farmers were involved. The results revealed that there were two kinds offarming systems - with livestock and without livestock. It indicated that farming with livestock could produce much more income than without livestock because farmers could sell
both crop and livestock production to the market. Moreover, livestock could be fed easily
with crop residues.  In  most  of  the  cases,  livestock’s  manure  could  also  be  used  to  fertilize  fields. Although livestock production was economically important for farmers, the shortage of water and feed throughout the year and the existence of diseases discouraged farmers from raising livestock in great numbers even if there was intervention from NGOs, local authorities, or veterinarians. Such conditions led most of the farmers to change to theuse of hand tractors as a means of transportation and field work.
Keywords farming system, crop-livestock interaction, SWOTINTRODUCTION
Banteay Meanchey Province is located in the Northwest corner of Cambodia, bordering with Thailand, Oddar Meanchey and Siem Reap and Battambang Province. Its economy was based on agricultural, tourism, and handicraft sectors (SOLD, 2006-2007). The main livestock products werecattle (buffalo, oxen, and cows), pigs, and poultry, (mainly chicken and ducks when water wasⒸISERD

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IJERD – International Journal of Environmental and Rural Development (2012) 3-2available) (Vinvien, 2004). Banteay Chmar is the commune of Benteay Meanchhey Province withthe highest number of families. Between 750 and 1,500 families were engaged in feeding cattle andpigs for substantial daily life (Cambodia, 2007; ECOSORN, 2007).
The number of livestock increased in previous years mainly as a reflection of improved production and income. The main livestock were cattle, pigs, and poultry. Cattle were most often
raised as draft animals for field operations and transportation, and were also seen as an importantinvestment/insurance in terms of urgent cash needs. Pigs, however, were mainly a cash enterprisefor farm families. Chickens and ducks were kept by most families for their own consumption, andwere probably the most important animal protein after fish (Cambodia, 2007).
Cattle are important as a source of draft power, and the use of manure was an essential croplivestock interaction. Dried manure or manure-based compost was often important for crop production, particularly on the low fertility soils in the area (Cambodia, 2007).
The importance of crop-livestock interactions were, however, challenged by a number of factors in the last few years. In the case of more resourceful farmers, animal draft power was outcompeted by motorized mechanization (hand tractor). In addition, subsidized fertilizers displaced
more labour-intensive animal manure application. Finally, the lack of fodder in the wet season restricted the number of cattle, and was further constrained by the expansion of agriculture (primarilycassava cultivation) instead of the previous important grassing areas (Cambodia, 2007).
The purpose of this study of crop-livestock interaction is to identify the income flow throughdifferent farming systems, the linkages between crop and livestock production, and achievements
and difficulties in the agriculture of the study area.
METHODOLOGY
The study site was proposed in Banteay Chmar Commune, Thmar Puok District, Banteay Meanchey Province, as the site was economically based on crop-livestock production.
The following approach was used to sample the study area. A spatial/grid-cell method wasapplied using a map from Google Earth mapping software. The map was split into columns androws. Selected households were pointed in yellow colour and the latitude/longitude coordinates
were obtained from the points. GPS was then used to identify the sampling locations in the field.
Moreover, some tools such as Participatory Rapid Appraisal (PRA) including Seasonal Calendar,Ranking Matrix, Map Sketching/Mapping, and Rural Rapid Appraisal (RRA) including SemiStructured Interview, Structured Interview, Focus Group Discussion (FGD), and Direct
Observation were applied.
37 households were selected to be interviewed, two FGDs (10 persons/FGD) were conducted,and other individuals were consulted and interviewed such as local guides, communal heads,
ECOSON staff, and agricultural extension workers. The findings were presented at the local,district, and provincial levels and in Royal University of Agriculture.

Fig. 1 Map of the research zone
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RESULT AND DISCUSSION
Situational information
The Banteay Chmar Commune has had a large decrease in livestock since 2005. The decrease inlivestock is due to the introduction of hand tractors, lack of feed caused by land use change, anddiseases. Many actors were involved in supporting livestock production such as NGOs, local authorities, agricultural extension workers and local veterinarians. However, their involvement still
did not encourage farmers to focus on the reproduction of livestock.
Hand tractor use
Hand tractors have been introduced in the region since 1999. The increase in use of hand tractors
was caused by the perception of local people that there have been big losses in animal draft power,
and that hand tractors are useful substitute. In some cases, the use of a hand tractor spread from one
farmer to another as an effective tool.
Only about 6 percent of the total local people were using hand tractors at the starting time in
1999. In 2001, however, the number of tractors was slightly increasing. Many local farmers werestarting to recognize the importance of hand tractors for field operations and other purposes.
By 2005, the number of hand tractor was rapidly increasing as farmers recognized their effectiveness. Moreover, shifting land use from grasslands to agricultural land decreased the feed available to livestock and potentially increased the use of hand tractors. This negative experience led
local people to change their way of life from livestock-based farming to hand tractor-based farming.
It could be summed up that most farmers switched to hand tractors from livestock. Hand tractors could be used for land preparation, transportation, pumping. Some people were using tractor asa method of fishing (by pulling a net connected behind the tractor) as well.

Fig. 2 Annual increase of hand tractors (1999-2008)
Land use change
Based on information from the field surveys, land use could be classified into six categories:
settlement land, rice field, cassava field, crop field, grassland and rest land. The land use change
has been occurring since 1996; however, a huge amount of change emerged in 2005 when the priceof cassava was increasing and the diseases of livestock were a serious problem. Since 2005, land
use has changed remarkably in the region, shifting from settlement land and grassland to cassava
land. This significant land use change caused the shortage of feed for livestock, especially cattle.
Even the rice fields, which provide a subsistence food source for the local people, were reduced.
The increases in cassava crops and livestock diseases had a negative impact on land use types
such as settlement land, rice field, and grassland. Also, the decreases in grassland land use reduced
the amount of feed available for cattle.
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IJERD – International Journal of Environmental and Rural Development (2012) 3-2Fig. 3 Dynamic of land ownershipLand classification
In accordance with this classification, the land area of all categories changed. The amount of settlement land decreased slightly as well as the amount of rice fields. However, there was a significant increase in the land area of cassava fields. This is due to the market demand for cassava product.
Table 1 Land classification
Landclassification< 0.5haSettlement land
Rice field
Cassava field
Crop field
Grassland
Rest land7381119002005 (%)
0.5-<1ha 1-<3ha272702317004103700>3ha< 0.5ha0240190092111119502008 (%)
0.5-<1ha1-<3ha937112300029373700>3ha023411905Disease status
The rearing of livestock in the local area decreased due to several diseases that infected livestock
throughout the region. The diseases which infected pigs and cattle included Foot and Mouth,
Hemorrhagic Septicemia, Swine Fever, and fowl cholera and fowl pox infected poultry. The
occurrence of serious diseases has increased greatly since 2005. The impact of this bad issue waslocally and internationally considered. Although there were no intervention from others
stakeholders, the damage of livestock was still happening. The bad experience to the local people
did not encourage farmers to raise livestock in large amounts.
Still, in some cases, farmers continued to raise pigs and chickens. These types of livestock
could be easily kept, grow quickly, and produce high income, so some farmers continued to raisethese animals.

Fig. 4 Tendency of livestock rearingⒸISERD165

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Income flow through the farming system
Mostly, farmers in the region were growing rice, cassava and banana. According to the farming
system classification, many types of products from the crops were used for both subsistence consumption and marketing. Out of the three sources of income, farmers were also fishing to supply
their families. Moreover, it seemed that the outputs from crop production were not handled properly. Some farmers burned or left crop residue in the fields as an organic fertilizer. However, this is
not an efficient way to improve soil fertility because if they had livestock, some kinds of crop residue could be effectively used as forage for the animal, which in turn produced manure to fertilize
the fields. In addition, the animal can provide food and cash income.

Fig. 5 Farming system without livestock

Fig. 6 Farming system with livestock

Crop-livestock linkage
Crop-livestock interaction was classified into two categories: with livestock and without livestock.
In the local area, most farmers were growing rice, cassava and banana. Banana was found only ingardens while the other two crops were cultivated in the field. Farming without livestock did noteffectively use crop residues and larger amounts of chemical fertilizers were applied in fields wherelivestock were absent. Information from the survey suggests that the soil became gradually lessfertile with the application of inorganic fertilizers, indicated by the fact that some farmers bought
manure from neighbors to re-fertilize their fields.

Fig. 7 Cropping without livestock

Fig. 8 Cropping with livestockⒸISERD166

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However, farming was more effective where farmers had livestock. Crop residue was used foranimal feed, and manure, in return, was used as an organic fertilizer to enrich the field. Therefore,farming with livestock balances crop-livestock interaction and provides an additional source of
cash income.
SWOT analysis
The SWOT analysis was used to determine proper strategies to deal with weakness and threats of
the local farmers by using their strength and opportunities. After SWOT tool was analyzed, farmers
suggested using their local resources in order to make better their livelihood.
Table 2 SWOT analysis for improving the crop-livestock interaction and livelihood
STRENGTH

THREATS Variety of crops were cultivated in the region
 Crop residue was used for animal feed
 Manure was used to improve field instead of chemical fertilizer application
 Farmers had a lot of free time Soil pollution by using chemical fertilizers
 Water pollution from chemical fertilizers negatively
affected human and animal health Increased new diseases from pesticide use Lake of water supply in the dry months

WEAKNESSESOPPORTUNITIES

 Many NGOs were supporting local farmers
 Full availability of local veterinarians
 Water source around temple and Cheongcrosh Lake
was used in dry months
 Crop residue should be kept for animal feed
 Local cattle should be considered and Manure should
be kept for soil enrichment

Lack of water in the dry season
Lack of forage for cattle in the wet months
Lack of prevention of animal diseases
Poor management of manure
Crop residue was burned in the field
Hand tractors played more important role than cattle in term of field operation

CONCLUSION
Most farmers cultivated rice, cassava, and banana. At the same time, they raised cattle, pigs, andpoultry. Since 1996, the linkage between crops and livestock had become more effective. They
primarily used manure for their fields, and crop residue for feeding animals. In 2005, however, theincreases in diseases, the market demand of cassava, and shortage of feed drove down the numberof livestock. Farmers tended to rear animals in small numbers for home consumption and cash income only. Moreover, the introduction of the hand tractor positively affects the field work, and reduced the importance of animals in terms of farm operation.
Many farmers who did not engage in livestock rearing used chemical fertilizer instead of manure. Moreover, pesticides were applied throughout the area which has negatively affected thefields and water, and it impacted human and animal health. The soil fertility became poorer, so thefarmers started recovering the soil by applying manure. The farmers without livestock bought manure from the neighbors to apply to their fields.
ACKNOWLEDGMENT
The authors would like to sincerely thank to the Graduate School of Royal University of Agriculture and France Solidarity Priority (FSP) for funding and inspiring us in this field survey. In addition, we would like to thank to all lecturers and Denmark students for their well cooperation in fieldsurvey. Last, I would greatly thank to Prof. Cindy Thatcher/s that afforded to edit my full paper.
REFERENCES
Cambodia. 2007. Agriculture productivity improvement project.
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ECOSORN. 2007. Newsletter. 1 (1).
The second office of local department and land collectivity (SOLD). 2006-2007. Pocketbook on the information of statistic situation research, the fourth region, Battambong, Banteay Meanchey, Siem Reap,Odormeanchey and Pielen Vill.
Vinvien, K. 2004. Livestock section report. Cambodia, Lao PDR, Thailand, and Vietnam.

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