Summary
1. Outline of the ProjectCountry: Kingdom of Cambodia
Project Title: Battambang Agricultural Productivity Enhancement Project
Issue/Sector: Agriculture
Cooperation Scheme: Technical Cooperation Project
Division in Charge: JICA Cambodia OfficeTotal cost (as of the time of evaluation): 281 million Japanese yen
Period of Cooperation (Duration):
R/D Signed on: December 20, 2002
Cooperation period: April 1, 2003 – March 31, 2006
Partner Country’s Implementing Organization: Battambang Provincial Department ofAgriculture, Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries
Supporting Organization in Japan: Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries
Related Cooperation: The Project for Technical Service Center for Irrigation System
1-1 Background of the Project
Although the Kingdom of Cambodia (hereinafter referred to as “Cambodia”)
struggled with civil war and political turmoil for a long time, the Paris Peace
Agreements were concluded in 1991 and the government of Cambodia was established.
Thereafter, general elections were held in 1998 and a new administration was formed,
which is providing domestic stability and is focusing on the reconstruction anddevelopment of the country.
In Cambodia, about 84% of the total population is engaged in agriculture,
forestry and fisheries, accounting for about 40% of the GDP. Rice is a particularly
important product, accounting for about 90% of the country’s total cultivated land.
However, due to a lack of irrigation facilities, cultivation takes place mostly through wet
season cropping, which relies on rain. Therefore, such agriculture is susceptible toweather and is therefore unstable, and the yield of rice remains at the very low level of
1.9t/ha. Under such conditions, many farmers are still living in poverty, and theimprovement of agriculture in the region is an urgent issue.
Consequently, the government of Cambodia had been requesting a technicalcooperation project aimed for the improvement of agricultural technology and the
diffusion thereof to farms.
Japan International Cooperation Agency dispatched individual experts inJanuary 2001 for a one-month period, and implemented the Project Formulation Studyin April that same year. As a result, a plan “to establish a system to proliferate quality
seeds based on the Bek Chan Agricultural Station and to promote their diffusion
through demonstrations and exhibitions at actual farms” was suggested in Battambang
Province, which has a high potential for agricultural production, serving a major role as
it does in rice cultivation in Cambodia. Based on this suggestion, the First Preparatory
Study Team was dispatched in January 2002, followed by the dispatch of the Second
Preparatory Study Team in May 2, 2002 and the dispatch of the Project Implementation
Study Team in December of the same year. Through these dispatches of study teams,
the framework of the project was created and an agreement was reached on an
implementation system in partnership with the government of Cambodia.
1-2 Project Overview
In December 2002, the Project Implementation Study Team and thegovernment of Cambodia signed the Record of Discussions (R/D) and the Minutes of
Meeting (M/M). It was decided that the project would be initiated from April 2003 andconducted over a period of three years. The outline of the project is as follows.
- The project purpose is: “Participating farmers’ agricultural productivity in Kamping
Puoy area is to be enhanced, and their livelihood stabilized with their active
participation.”- Baseline surveys (socio-economic survey, etc.) should be conducted during theinaugural year of the project in the targeted area so as to ascertain actual conditions in
the target areas.
- The major activities of the project should focus on the improvement of rice production
technologies,

theimprovementofagricultural

management(including

thediversification of agricultural production), and the formulation and strengthening of
farmers’ group.
- With a view to accomplishing the above-mentioned purposes, the Japanese side
decided to dispatch four long-term experts and short-term experts as needed, accept
counterparts (hereinafter referred to as “C/Ps”) as trainees, provide equipment
equivalent to about 20 million yen, develop infrastructure equivalent to 8 million yen
and to bear some of the costs necessitated by the implementing activities.
- It was decided that the Cambodian side would appoint C/Ps and provide facilities andrice paddies in two agricultural stations, and secure the basic operational costs for the
project such as water and electricity costs.

- It was decided that the Director of the Department of Agronomy and Agriculture andAgricultural Land Improvement of the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries
would be appointed as Project Director, and that the Deputy Director of the Battambang
Provincial Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries in would be appointed as
Project Manager, with a view to establishing the Joint Coordinating Committee and theSteering Committee and managing the progress of the entire project.
Three long-term experts and one short-term expert were dispatched in April
2003, and the project was officially launched.
(1) Overall Goal
-Farmers’ livelihood in Kamping Puoy area is to be stabilized.
-Agricultural productivity in Battambang province is to be enhanced.
(2) Project Purpose
Participating farmers’ agricultural productivity in Kamping Puoy area is to be enhanced
and their livelihood stabilized with their active participation.
(3) Project Outputs
0. Conditions in target areas are to be ascertained
1. Rice production technology is to be improved
2. Farming practices of participating farmers are to be improved (including crop
diversification)
3. Activities by farmers’ groups are to be promoted(4) Project Inputs (as of the evaluation)
Japanese side:
Long-term experts

4 personsShort-term experts

4 personsNo. of trainees received in Japan 4 persons
Equipment supply

18.8 million yen

Local cost

55.3 million yen

Cambodian side:
Assignment of C/Ps

13 persons

Local cost

61.2 million riel (1.6 million yen)

2. Evaluation Team Overview
Members of the evaluation teamTeam leader:Ryozo Nishimaki
Senior Advisor, Rural Development Department, JICA
Agricultural technology:
Yoshihiko Nishimura
Professor, Graduate School of International Development, Nagoya University
Farmers’ organization:
Keiko Itagaki
GLM
Evaluation analysis:
Hiroshi Okabe
Kaihatsu Management Consulting, Inc.
Planning management:
Jiro Takeichi
Project Formulation Advisor, JICA Cambodia OfficeEvaluation Period
From July 24 to August 6, 2005
Evaluation type: Terminal evaluation
3. Overview of Evaluation Results
3-1 Achievements- The following three indices have been set for the project purpose, and the status
regarding accomplishment of each indicator is as follows.
(1) Yield of quality seed user group members has grown to over 80 % of the yield in
KADC (Kamping Puoy Agricultural Development Center); this target was achieved by
2004. It is also necessary to conduct a survey after the harvesting of wet season
cropping in 2005.
(2) Rice quality at 80 % of that produced by members of the quality seed user group is
considered to be quality rice; it has been suggested that a certain level of result wasachieved with by enabling the crops to be sold at prices higher than the market price.
(3) More than 50 % of FFS (Farmers’ Field School) participants are better off than they
were previously; it is necessary to implement an impact survey before the end of the
project and to collect numerical data for the purpose of judging the achievement.
- Outputs: The achievements of the four outputs are as follows.
(1) Conditions in target regions is to be ascertained: This has been implementedsufficiently.
(2) Rice production technology is to be improved: (1-1) This purpose has been achieved
as a result of the farmers’ groups’ commencement of production and use of the seeds
introduced through the system. (1-2) The technical guidelines have yet to be created.
Based on the analysis on the result of the questionnaire survey conducted among
member farmers, there is a strong possibility that this will be achieved before the end of
the project.
(3) Farming practices of participating farmers is to be improved: (2-1) An annual
agricultural management plan is being used by 60% of the five farm management
cooperatives, and as such the purpose has been achieved. (2-2) The plan for thediversification of the farming system has yet to be created. It is necessary to conduct asurvey and determine the extent to which the farmers who received the training are
utilizing said training before the end of the project.
(4) Activities by farmers’ groups are to be promoted: (3-1) This campaign is producing
results in terms of the reinforcement of water user group farmers, as the managementof irrigation waters in addition to the collection and management of irrigation service
fees are being implemented through the reinforcement of water user groups. (3-2)
Women’s groups were established in all ten targeted villages, and leaders wereidentified in six of these villages.
- Overall Goal: Increasing rice production in Battambang has been set as the indicator
for the overall goal. At the time of evaluation, the production of quality seeds had
increased to 69 farming households. However, it is expected that it will take a long time
for it to be possible to determine results such as whether the achievement hascontributed in increased rice production throughout Battambang Province.
- Input: Almost all the inputs were implemented as originally planned at the start of the
project.
3-2 Summary of Evaluation Results(1) Relevance
It is considered that the project has been highly relevant based on thecomprehensive evaluation from the following viewpoints.
- Whether or not the project has been designed and implemented according to thedevelopment policies and strategies of Cambodia

The government of Cambodia has been placing high priority on poverty
reduction, the enhancement of agricultural sector and the improvement of rural
livelihoods under its development policies and strategies, and as such the project ishighly consistent with the country’s development policy.
- Whether or not the project meets the needs of its target groups, and whether or not the
selection of target groups has been appropriate
The project has been intending to maintain frequent and close communication
with the targeted groups through the baseline survey and at both the planning andimplementation stages. As a result, the targeted farmers are proactively engaged in the
project. The project also eventually came to include not only irrigation farmers but also
landless farmers and women, in order to extend the benefits of the project, and as suchthe selection of targeted group has been appropriate.
- Whether or not the project has been designed and implemented according to Japan’s
Assistance Policies for Cambodia
Both the government of Japan and JICA regard agriculture and ruraldevelopment as prioritized issues, and as such the level of consistency is high.
(2) Effectiveness
It is considered that the project has been highly effective based on acomprehensive evaluation from the following viewpoints.
- Whether or not the project purpose can be achieved by March 2006
- Whether or not the outputs have been sufficient for achieving the project purpose andeffective in doing so- Whether or not the external conditions described in PDM have actually influenced the
project, and whether they have been appropriate for achieving the project purpose
The agricultural productivity of participating farmers in the project isincreasing. In addition, based on the results of observations by the study team, it has
been ascertained that the farmers who participated in the training program
implemented under the project are employing the skills gained through training andare expanding the information network among farmers. Also, some farmers have
implemented activities both within and outside their farm-land with a view toincreasing their income. Based on these facts, it is expected that the livelihood of thesefarmers will further improve and become more stable before the end of the project inMarch 2006, and it can be said that there is a strong possibility that the project purpose
will be achieved. However, because there is a lack of quantitative data at present, it isnecessary to grasp the effectiveness of the project in further detail by conducting impact

surveys before the end of the project.
Setting the four outputs, namely the survey of needs, the improvement of riceproduction skills, the improvement of farming practices and the promotion of group
activities, for the achievement of the project purpose (improvement of the agricultural
productivity, rice quality and livelihoods) assumes the improvement of technical skills
and need-based farming patterns as well as the strengthening of networks between
farmers and local businesses, and as such this approach is considered to be logical andadequate.
Although the PDM noted that “there is no significant shortage of irrigationwater” among its external conditions, the project actually suffered from a lack ofirrigation water, and it proved to be possible to conduct irrigation only once during the
project period. As many of the project activities are related to irrigation, it has beensuggested that the project would have been achieved to an even greater degree had
there been no shortage of irrigation water. Because weather conditions are a factor thatlies outside the control of the project personnel, it is appropriate to set this as anexternal condition. However, the inclusion of measures aimed at ensuring theachievement of the project in spite of a shortage in irrigation water should have been
considered.
(3) Efficiency
It is considered that the project has been highly efficient based on thecomprehensive evaluation from the following viewpoints.
- Whether or not the outputs have been produced as expected- Whether or not the project inputs have properly supplied to the project (in terms oftime, quality and quantity)- Comparison with other similar projects- Whether the external conditions described in PDM have been appropriate to the
production of outputs
Almost all outputs related to rice production technology and farmers’ groups
have been produced as expected apart from the aspects that were being hindered bytiming difficulties at the time of evaluation. It is expected that the outputs related tofarming practices will have been produced by the time of the end of the project.
Therefore, as for the adequateness of activities, it is considered that all the activities
necessary for the production of the four outputs have been covered.
As for the adequateness and timeliness of inputs for the activities, although
there had been delays in the appointment of C/Ps on the Cambodian side, almost all theother inputs were implemented as scheduled. Also, there were follow-ups by other C/Ps
and project experts, so it is judged that there was no serious impact on the process ofproject implementation. Comparisons with other similar projects did not reveal any
notable differences in terms of the size of the targeted area, the number of beneficiary
farming households, the project cost and the contents and volume of inputs, and they
are considered to have been adequate.
As for the influence and adequateness of external conditions, the project
considers that it is necessary to select and support farmers cooperating in farmmanagement in order to improve farming practices. On the other hand, it was not easy
to find this kind of cooperation within the project area. In addition, two cooperating
farms had to suspend their activities suddenly due to illness and pregnancy on the partof family members. While the project was not able to control this sort of private matters,
it is considered that such eventualities should have been considered beforehand as
among the risks inherent in the project.
(4) Impact
Based on the evaluation, it is considered that the project has had certain
impacts from the following viewpoints.
- Whether or not the overall goals of the project can be achieved in the near future, andwhether or not they are logically related to the project purpose- Whether or not the external conditions described in PDM will befit the achievement of
the overall goals- Positive and negative impacts incurred by the project
As for the probability and adequacy of the achievement of the overall goal, it
can be said that the project has spreading effects. Therefore, it can be judged that there
is a possibility that the overall goal is being achieved. However, it should be understoodthat it is necessary to take adequate measures in terms of organization and system andpolicy development, and that even if such measures are taken it will take at least three
to five years to see said achievement.
All external conditions were set adequately for the achievement of the overall
goal. In addition, it is essential that KADC continue its activities, in its capacity as thecore organization upon the termination of the project.
As for the positive and negative impacts, several positive impacts have been
identified, such as the sales of quality seeds between farmers based on the increase inproduction volume and the accumulation of seeds production data. On the other hand,no serious negative effects were determined.

(5) Sustainability
Although concerns remain in regards to organizational sustainability, based on
the evaluation it is considered that the sustainability of the project is high in otheraspects from the following viewpoints.
- Whether or not policy support can be expected in the continuation of the project
activities- Whether or not institutional capacities, including financing and manpower, can be
expected for the continuation of the project’s activities- Whether or not use of the technologies introduced through the project can be further
expanded within and outside the ambit of the project- Whether or not the project can be accepted within local society in terms of traditionaland environmental compatibility
As for the expectation of policy support, the government of Cambodia
recognizes the importance of this project as being exceptionally high, as agriculturaland rural development are among its development priorities. Therefore, it is highly
probable that the project can obtain policy support, especially from the Ministry ofAgriculture.
As for the expectation of institutional capacities, although the KADC iscurrently covering some of the funding for activities by producing and selling thenecessary seeds and rice, it is impossible for it to continuously finance all of the project
activities. External financial sources that include the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry
and Fisheries and donors are therefore required for the provision of the support
necessary for the continuation and further expansion of the activities. Also, it isrecommended that staff be continuously appointed to the KADC by the Provincial
Department of Agriculture, Battambang, and that activities be implemented
proactively.
Regarding the extension of technology introduction, the technologies
introduced through the project have been simple and farmer-oriented. The project also
places efforts on the transfer of the introduced technologies from farmer to farmer by
way of establishing farmers’ groups. Considering current conditions in Cambodia, it isexpected that technologies such as these and the method for transferring suchtechnologies will be utilized by the current government workers in charge of projectextension as well as by the farmers themselves, and that use of the technologies inquestion will also be extended to other areas.
As for acceptability within society, thanks to various thoughtful measuresincluded within the project, such as the implementation of baseline survey and themaintenance of close communication with farmers, there is a strong possibility that the
project will be accepted within the framework of society and traditional culture, and it isconsidered that the possibility of hindrance of its persistent effects is low.
3-3 Factors Contributed in the Production of Effect(1) Planning
It is considered that the matters that contributed significantly to the
production of the project’s effects are as follows: the ascertainment of farmers’ actual
conditions and needs through the baseline survey, the incorporation of the results
thereof into the project plan, the inclusion of landless farmers and women among the
project targets, the consideration of the fact that the economic disparities between those
who possess irrigated farmlands and those who do not should not be widened by way ofthe promotion of irrigated farming.
(2) Implementation Process
The project has sought to maintain frequent and close communication with
farmers and to select targeted farmers appropriate for the project with the assistance ofvillage heads. It has also supported the proactive activities of C/Ps from the perspectiveof always transferring technologies to C/Ps through project activities. It is consideredthat these thoughtful measures promoted the active participation of farmers in project
activities and contributed in large measure to the fostering of the independence of C/Ps.
3-4 Problems and Factors that Raised Problems(1) Planning
One of the external conditions for the achievement of the overall goal was that
there be “no significant shortage of irrigation water.” However, the project actually faced
the problem of a shortage of irrigation water, and it was possible to implement
irrigation for one season only during the project period. As many of the project activities
were closely linked to irrigation, it has been suggested that the project would have beenachieved to an even greater degree had there been no shortage of irrigation water.
(2) Implementation Process
It was not easy to find cooperating farms, including practical and advanced

farmers, within the project area. In addition, two of the five cooperating farms retained
had to suspend their activities suddenly due to illness and pregnancy on the part offamily members. As a result, it was hard to implement the expansion efforts involving
the burrowing of farms’ rice paddies at the outset of the project, and the expansion oftechnologies also did not progress in accordance with original expectations.
3-5 Conclusion
Based on the evaluation results stated above, it is considered at present that
there is a strong possibility that the project purpose will be achieved by March 2006
when the project is completed. However, in order to ensure the sustainability of the
project, it is considered necessary that the governments of both countries adopt further
appropriate measures. Because the project is regarded as one of the models for
agricultural and rural development in Cambodia, the outcomes should be extended toother areas in Cambodia. Considering these factors, it is considered favorable that the
project will be completed as of March 31, 2006 as originally planned.
3-6 Recommendations (Specific Measures, Recommendations and Advices on thisProject)(1) The project should conduct an impact survey by the time of its termination so as toclearly determine the extent to which the project has improved farmers’ livelihoods. The
data obtained through the baseline survey should be used for comparison with dataobtained from the baseline survey. In addition, a follow-up survey should also be
conducted in order to determine the extent to which the farms that participated in the
agricultural and farming technology training have adopted said technologies.
(2) Project personnel must continuously provide support with a view to strengthening
the Farmer Water User Community (FWUC), not only in terms of the collection ofirrigation service fees but also from the perspective of water management based on theplan prepared by the Provincial Department of Water Resources and Meteorology, withthe aim of ensuring the adequate management of the irrigation system for theremaining period.
(3) Considering the significance of the project in Cambodia, the project needs toimplement further public relations activities such as providing notification of project
performances to the central government and other donors.

(4) The outcomes of the project should be extended to other areas after the terminationof the cooperation period. In particular, the technology transfer methods adopted by the
project, including the FSS, could be applicable to similar projects in Cambodia.
Therefore, the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries and the Provincial
Department of Agriculture should first implement surveys on the needs of farmers insuitable for development areas, the situations in regards to the government staff incharge of extension, and differences in the area development potential.
(5) Because of the high level of demand for quality seeds in the project area, theProvincial Department of Agriculture should facilitate the multiplication of seeds
through affiliated experimental stations. It is possible that the Kamping Puoy
Agricultural Development Center, if managed well, might be able to sustain themselvesfinancially through the profits obtained from the growing and selling of qualified seeds
to farmers. A study as to whether other stations could also achieve sustainability by
doing the same should therefore be conducted.
(6) In order to make irrigated agriculture successful, the linkage between the
Agricultural Department and the Department of Water Resources and Meteorology at
the provincial level and that between the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and
Fisheries and the Ministry of Water Resources and Meteorology at the central
government level should be further strengthened. Because the Provincial Departmentof Water Resources and Meteorology and the Ministry of Water Resources andMeteorology should be responsible for formulating plans for the delivery of irrigationwater, and the Provincial Agricultural Department and the Ministry of Agriculture,
Forestry and Fisheries are responsible for the implementation thereof, linkage andcooperation between the four organizations is strongly anticipated.
(7) The project had been bolstering the capacity of C/Ps in terms of their outreachactivities and experimental cultivation at experimental stations. It is recommended
that opportunities for agricultural education be provided at post-graduate schools witha view to further improving the capabilities of the staff of the Provincial Department ofAgriculture.
(8) Further consideration is necessary in regards to the setting of overall goals (inparticular, in terms of the addition, clarification and review of indicators and method for
obtaining said indicators). Specifically, it is necessary to set an indicator for the goal of

“Farmers’ livelihood in Kamping Puoy area is to be stabilized.” Also, as for the increasein rice production in Battambang, it is recommended that “the extent to which the
project can contribute in terms of production volume in Battambang” be determined at
the time of the termination of the project, since the influence of the project in regards tothis aspect is spreading widely.
3-7 Lessons Learned (Matters Helpful for Discovering/Forming Similar Projects Derived
from this Project and Implementation, Operation and Administration Thereof)(1) It has been confirmed that the project’s approach, which aimed to enhance therelationship between rice farms and the market (with rice millers in particular) has
been effective in improving the livelihoods of farmers. BARN (Battambang Agriculture
and Rural Network), established by way of this project, has also made a significant
contribution to the enhancement of such relationships. The Provincial Department ofAgriculture should therefore consider making use of the private sector as much as
possible in its development of agriculture.
(2) One of the indicators used to measure the achievements of the project purpose is“whether rice qualities are considered to be quality rice.” It means that farmers can gain
large profits by producing and selling high quality rice to markets if it is accepted assuch by the market, and it is clearly and directly linked with the project purpose. As theevaluation of this indicator is entrusted to the market, it may not always be objective,
but because the project is market-oriented, it is considered to be an effective indicator.
(3) Many activities pertaining to the project are closely related to irrigation water. Whileit was mentioned in the PDM, as an external condition, that “there is no significant
shortage of irrigation water,” unfortunately, due to a water shortage at the Kamping
Puoy Dam, the project could only use irrigation water for one season during thethree-year period of the project. This obviously has limited the effectiveness of the
training in regards to the betterment of the farmers’ life. This serves as one lesson,namely that even if a project is irrigation-based, a strategy aimed at assuring that the
project’s performance level remains high without irrigation water must be formulated.
For example, the project could have performed better if some activities, such as training
related to rain-fed rice cultivation, the establishment and strengthening ofmarket-oriented groups, etc., had been included.