IJERD – International Journal of Environmental and Rural Development (2014) 5-2

Research article
erd

Evaluating Participation Level of Farmers in Project on
Promoting Sustainable Farming Systems in Samroung
Commune of Kampong Cham Province, Cambodia
JUN FUJIHIRA
Institute of Environment Rehabilitation and Conservation, Tokyo, Japan
Email: hq-erecon@nifty.com

MACHITO MIHARA*
Faculty of Regional Environment Science, Tokyo University of Agriculture, Tokyo, Japan
Received 26 October 2013

Accepted 9 July 2014(*Corresponding Author)

Abstract In Cambodia, 71% of labor force engage in agricultural sector and contribute
36% on 2010 of Gross Domestic Products. Recently, conventional farming based on agrochemicals application is a major farming practice in the country. However, the applicationof agricultural inputs, especially chemical pesticides are not appropriate from a point ofview of sustainable farming practice. As the mainstream farming systems based on agrochemicals are not only deteriorating natural environment and ecosystem but also affecting
human health. For preventing these impacts, attention has been paid to sustainable farming
systems. For promoting sustainable farming systems based on natural resource circulation,
Institute of Environment Rehabilitation and Conservation (ERECON) and Tokyo
University of Agriculture implemented project in Samroung commune of Kampong Champrovince, Cambodia since April 2011. From previous studies, it was concluded thatextension approaches which are applied in Samroung commune is effective in order tochange farmer’s awareness for converting their farming system. In addition, the farmers inSamroung commune have motivation and potential for converting from conventionalfarming systems to sustainable farming systems. However, for understanding participationlevel of farmers properly, this study evaluate participation level of farmers from 2011 to2013 and examine appropriate incentive for improving participation level based on thequestionnaire and interview survey. This study concluded that participation level offarmers was improved through project activities year by year and there are someincentives for improving farmer’s participation level. It can be said that participation level
was improved according to change of interests and build incentives related to project
activities.
Keywords participation level, sustainable farming systems, sustainable agriculture basedon natural resource circulation

INTRODUCTION
According to Ngo and Siriwattananon (2009), agriculture has utmost important role for reducing
poverty and improving the capacity for human resource development in rural area. On 2010,Cambodia has population of 14 million and 71% of labor force engages in agricultural sector andcontributes 36% of Gross Domestic Products (Asian Development Bank, 2011). In this country,
conventional farming systems based on agro-chemicals become a mainstream to meet market’sdemand. But chemical pesticides effect not only positive but also negative for the environment andhuman. It is also a problem that farmers do not have enough knowledge about applying agrochemicals.
For producing foods and fiber materials on a sustainable basis harmonizing agricultural
production with the natural environment, the conversion from conventional farming systems tosustainable farming systems is considered. In this study, sustainable farming systems is defined as aⒸ ISERD68

IJERD – International Journal of Environmental and Rural Development (2014) 5-2system that can evolve indefinitely toward greater human utility, greater efficiency of resource use
and a balance with the environment which is favorable to humans and most other species(Harwood, 1990).
For promoting sustainable farming systems based on natural resource circulation, Institute ofEnvironment Rehabilitation and Conservation (ERECON) and Tokyo University of Agriculture
implemented project in Samroung commune of Kampong Cham province, Cambodia since April
2011. For 450 local farmers as well as students and teachers in 10 elementary schools, the project
not only extended techniques for sustainable agriculture but also supported to form farmers’ group,
organize project team on agricultural market survey and product sales, educate teachers throughleader training, and establish Pellet Compost Center in Samroung commune. From previous studies,
it was concluded that extension approaches which are applied in Samroung commune is effective inorder to change farmer’s awareness for converting their farming system. In addition, the farmers inSamroung commune have motivation and potential for converting conventional farming systems tosustainable farming systems. However, for understanding awareness of farmers properly,
participation level also needs to be studied.
According to Chambers (2005) cited in Beatrice (2008), participation enables people to realize
their rights to participate in and access information related to the decision-making processes which
affect their lives. Pretty (1995) stated that participation is one of the critical components of success.
His analysis also revealed that the outcome is seen as participation when people’s ideas andknowledge are valued and power is given to them to make decisions independently of external
agencies. On the other hand, Beatrice (2008) studied that development program with top-down
initiatives hardly reach the people which the programs are meant for.
In order to understand participation level of farmers properly, this study evaluate participationlevel of farmers and examine appropriate incentive for improving participation level based on thequestionnaire and interview survey conducted in Samroung commune of Kampong Cham province,Cambodia. This study defines incentive as something that encourages people to do something(Oxford dictionary, 2005).
STUDY SITE
Study site of the study comprised of 11 villages which are located in Samroung commune, Phrey
Chhor district, Kampong Cham province, Cambodia. This commune is located 83 kilometers from
Phnom Penh city (Fig. 1). The commune has population of 8,111 people on 2011 (ERECON, 2011).
Main agricultural product is paddy rice mainly for both of sales and self-consumption, meanwhile,
several kinds of vegetables also produced by farmers In Samroung commune, agro-chemicals areapplied for production in order to increasing yield.

Kampong Cham province

Cambodia

Phrey Chhor district

Kampong Cham province

Samroung commune
Phnom Penh
0020km100km

Fig. 1 Location of Samroung commune in Kamong Cham provinceⒸ ISERD

69

IJERD – International Journal of Environmental and Rural Development (2014) 5-2

METHODOLOGY
In this study, incentive of improving participation level of farmers in Samroung commune wasstudied. For achieving objective, the study was advanced through 1) questionnaire survey, 2)interview and 3) field investigation. Through questionnaire survey and field investigation, 9farmers who have high participation frequency compare to other farmers were selected forunderstanding their incentives through questionnaire survey (Fig. 2). The questionnaire wasdesigned to measure 1) farmer’s time sharing for agricultural activities including technical training,meeting, etc. and 2) comparison of their former and present interests related to agriculturalactivities. Besides, some farmers who not only participates activities such as meeting frequently but
also considers improving their circumstances voluntarily were interviewed for detail information.

Fig. 2 Conducting questionnaire survey
Table 1 A typology of participationNo.
1Typology
Manipulative Participation

Characteristics of each typeParticipation is simply a presence, with "people's" representatives on
official boards but who are unelected and have no power.
2
Passive Participation
People participate by being told what has been decided or has alreadyhappened. In involves unilateral announcements by an administration orproject management without any listening to people's responses.
3
Participation by Consultation
People participate by being consulted or by answering questions. External
agents define problems and information gathering processes, and so control
analysis.
4
Participation for Material
People participate by contributing resources. They may provide the fields
Incentivesand labor, but are involved in neither experimentation nor the process oflearning.
5
Functional Participation
Participation seen by external agencies as a means to achieve project goals,
especially reduced costs. People may participate by forming groups to meet
predetermined objectives related to the project.
6
Interactive Participation
People participate in joint analysis, development of action plans andformation or strengthening of local institutions. Participation is seen as aright, not just the means to achieve project goals.
7
Self-Mobilization
People participate by taking initiatives independently of external
institutions to change systems.
Source: Pretty (1995) , Mihara and Yamaji (2004)

In addition, participation level of farmers was evaluated and compared from 2011 to 2013
based on the participatory level developed by Pretty (1995) which is cited in Mihara and Yamaji(2004). The typology of participation is divided into seven types as Table 1. It is because that highparticipation of farmers is essential for sustaining output of the project.

Ⓒ ISERD

70

IJERD – International Journal of Environmental and Rural Development (2014) 5-2

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
Typology of Participation
Through observation of farmer’s contribution and participation frequency toward project activities
and interview, participation level was measured by authors based on typology of participation
composed by Pretty (1995). In initial stage of the project on 2011, typology of participation offarmers was level 2, participation by consultation. It is because interviewees mainly answeredquestions and consulted by project implementer. But on 2013, farmer’s participation level was
marked as level 5 or 6 because members of farmers’ group start to communicate and shareknowledge each other. Moreover, key farmers especially committee members of farmers’ group
started to participating decision making on action plan and expanding techniques for sustainableagriculture to other farmers. However, some farmers who have high participation level evaluated aslevel 7 because they consider problems by themselves and improve their environment voluntary.
For example, some farmers set irrigation system in vegetable farm, expand their vegetable field byfill up pond with soil, start collaboration with private company for vegetable selling, and dick big
pond near vegetable field without recommendation from implement organization. They also try to
improve agricultural techniques of other farmers based on natural resource circulation throughshowing, explaining and accepting visitors at their farm.
Result was similar to the studies of Siriwattananon and Mihara (2006), and Ngo andSiriwattanannon (2009). Their studies described that participation level at the 1st workshop wasvery low at level 2 or 3 but it changed to level 6 in the 3rd workshop after farmers understood wellabout benefits of introduced technique.
Change of Time Sharing for Agricultural Activities after the Project Implementation
For promoting sustainable agriculture based on natural resource circulation, the project
implemented several activities. For example, from April 2011 to March 2012, 41 technicaltrainings about techniques for sustainable agriculture were implemented and totally 414 farmers
were participated. Project team meeting and additional training such as pellet compost making werealso conducted for key farmers such as committee members of farmers’ group occasionally. In
addition, technical trainings were also conducted at Thailand and Japan in order to learn advanced
agricultural techniques, management system of farmers association, etc. Totally 20 farmers
participated in these trainings in 2012 and 2013. (ERECON, 2012 and 2013).
By asking change of working time on agricultural activities, it was revealed that many farmers
became busy after project started because project implementer organized many kinds of technicaltraining, meeting, and etc. Normally, technical training organized by two hours and meeting at least
an hour. However, some farmers who have incentives participated these kinds of activities properly
even they were busy with their own activities.
By asking reasons of their participation, 100% of interviewee answered 1) learning knowledge
and techniques related to sustainable agriculture, 2) holding the relationship with international
Non-Governmental Organization (ERECON), 3) taking materials for conducting sustainableagriculture by ERECON, and 4) contributing improve farming way in Samroung commune werereasons of their time sharing (Fig. 3).
It can be said that farmers hope to learn and improve knowledge and technique to sustainableagriculture because it will be contribute to improve farming way in their commune. Michael (1997)
mentioned one of issues on participation is acceptability of implementer. For proving it, good
relationship with project implementer, international Non-Governmental Organization, is also
answered as reason for farmer’s time sharing.
Beatrice (2008) found that lacking of funds to start up business after training is one oflimitation for improving participation level. As same as Beatrice, result of questionnaire shows that
distribution of necessary materials for conducting sustainable agriculture is also important
incentive for farmers. In addition, all of trainees of technical training at Thailand and Japan fromⒸ ISERD71

IJERD – International Journal of Environmental and Rural Development (2014) 5-2

target group answered these kinds of technical training were surely one of incentives for keeping
their time sharing. Therefore, project activities and relationship with implementer seems importantfactor to change participation level of target farmers.

Fig. 3 Making compost with supported compost box (left) and farmers learned
how to make bio-fertilizer through technical training in Thailand (right)
Changes in Interests in Sustainable Agriculture of Farmers before and after the Project
Implementation
For understand project impact toward awareness of farmers on sustainable agriculture, theirinterests in sustainable agriculture before and after the project implementation were compared(Table 2). Results of questionnaire survey showed that it was obvious that interest in sustainableagriculture of interviewee seems to change after the project implementation. As mentioned before,
farmers increased their interest on sustainable agriculture through project activities such as meeting,technical training and practicing of techniques for sustainable agriculture.
Although almost all of farmers had interest to increase crops yield by conventional farming
systems before the project, nobody hope to increase yield by conventional farming systems after
the project implementation. It is because that farmers start to care more about their health andreduction of expense for agro-chemicals.
Table 2 Interests of farmers before and after the project implementation on April 2011
No.

Interest related to agricultural activities

1To increase yield of crops by applying chemical fertilizer
and pesticide
2To sell many kinds of crop to middleman
3To grow crops with lower chemical input
4To make higher quality compost
5
To use bio-fertilizer with higher quality
6To use bio-pesticide with higher quality
7
To build up collaboration with private company
8
To build up collaboration with NGO (ERECON)
Source: Questionnaire survey in 2013, ERECON

Answer (N = 9)
(Before)(After)80752221138989
79

In addition, almost all of interviewee increased their interest on improving technique forsustainable agriculture such as compost, bio-fertilizer and bio-pesticide. Target farmers also
increased interest on build up collaboration with private company and NGO. It can be consideredthat farmers start to think collaboration with private company because the project tries to expand
collaboration with private company in order to sell agricultural products widely. Some privatecompanies visited and observed some farmers for checking possibility of further collaboration.

Ⓒ ISERD

72

IJERD – International Journal of Environmental and Rural Development (2014) 5-2CONCLUSION
According to the results and discussion done in this study, participation level was level 2 on 2011
because target farmers just answered questions and consulted by implementer. Farmers also
participated in activities after contents and schedule decided by implementer. However, it waschanged to level 5 or 6 on 2013 and members of farmers’ group start to communicate and shareknowledge each other. In addition, key farmers especially committee members of farmers’ group
started to participating decision making on action plan and expanding techniques for sustainableagriculture to other farmers. Some farmers became participation level 7 because they consider andtry to improve their circumstances by themselves.
Besides, it can be concluded that there are some incentives for improving farmer’s
participation level. These are 1) build motivation for learning, 2) relationship with implementer, 3)
distribution of materials and 4) participation to technical training in other countries. In addition,
project activities seem to change interest of farmers from conventional farming systems tosustainable farming systems.
It can be said that participation level was increased according to change of interests and build
incentives on project activities from 2011 to 2013. So, for promoting sustainable farming systems
effectively, further project needs to be designed for improving farmers’ interests and incentives
through various activities and communication between target farmers and project implementer.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Authors would like to express their appreciation to all of colleagues at the Institute of Environment
Rehabilitation and Conservation (ERECON) and related organizations.
REFERENCES
Asian Development Bank. 2011. Key indicators for Asia and the pacific 2011. (Available from;www.adb.org /statistics).
Beatrice, O. 2008. Strengthening rural agricultural training program through participation and training needs
assessment. Netherlands.
ERECON. 2012. Annual report 2011 of program on promoting sustainable agriculture at Kampong Champrovince in Cambodia. Consortium of Institute of Environment Rehabilitation and Conservation andTokyo University of Agriculture, Japan.
ERECON. 2013. Annual report 2012 of program on promoting sustainable agriculture at Kampong Champrovince in Cambodia. Institute of Environment Rehabilitation and Conservation, Japan.
Harwood, R.R. 1990. The history of sustainable agriculture. In Sustainable Farming Systems. Edwards et al.
(eds), 3-19.
Michael, K. 1997. Participation in development: The question, challenges and issues. A Symposium
Background Paper. Symposium on participation in development; the question, challenges and issues.
Mihara, M. and Yamaji, E. 2004. Participatory strategy for soil and water conservation. Institute ofEnvironment Rehabilitation and Conservation, 231-240, Japan.
Ngo, B. and Siriwattananon, L. 2009. Suitable timing of application of pelletized compost and farmers’
acceptance in Cambodia. J. ISSAAS, 15 (1), 91-100.
Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary (Seventh Edition). 2005. Oxford University Press. UK.
Pretty, J. 1995. Participatory learning for sustainable agriculture: International Institute for Environment andDevelopment, World Development, 23 (8), 1247-1263.
Royal Government of Cambodia, et al. 2002. Integrated pest management farmer training project Cambodia.
Royal Government of Cambodia, Cambodia, 1-7.
Siriwattananon, L. and Mihara, M. 2006. Granular compost development and farmers’ adaptability in Khon
Kaen, Northeast Thailand. Journal of Arid Land Studies, 154, 483-486.

Ⓒ ISERD73