Improved orchard with an integrated farming system
Type: Technologies
Creation: 2017-05-17 10:06 Updated: 2019-09-02 08:58
Compilers: Sok Pheak
Reviewers: Nimul CHUN, Nicole Harari, Stephanie Jaquet, Ursula Gaemperli, Alexandra Gavilano
Country/ region/ locations where the Technology has been applied and which are covered by this assessment
- Country: Cambodia
- Region/ State/ Province: Kaeng Prasat village, Sambour Commune, Sambour District, Kratie Province
- Further specification of location (e.g. municipality, town, etc.), if relevant: Rural area
- Map: View Map
Description of the SLM Technology
Short description of the Technology
The integrated farming system (IFS) includes basically the mixture of different farming components like crops, fruit tree cultivation, fish and livestock husbandry on the same farm plot. IFS help significantly to improve soil quality and crop production by using a minimum of external agricultural inputs.
Detailed description of the Technology
Growing fruit trees is commonly practiced by Cambodian farmers, and there are different types of crops throughout the country. An integrated farming system is first of all an agricultural practice on a particular plot of land where crops, as well as livestock (pigs, and chickens), and fish are raised. The main purpose is to support and meet the farmers’ need in getting more benefits and at the same time to promote ecological balance in the region. The integration of all, crop production, fish and livestock, is a simple mixture that has been applied by most farmers. The case study here picks out one particular farmer who applied this technology on his orchard, in an area of less fertile soil. This soil bear normally lower yields e.g. also in fruit tree cultivation. The farmer grew four types of fruit trees within his orchard, which included 150 pomelo trees, 25 mango trees, 11 tamarind trees and 10 lemon trees. Furthermore he raised fish and livestock on his plot, both with the aim of improving the soil condition to get better yield and crop quality. The mixture of different farming components and the resources recycling within the orchard reduced the use of external agricultural inputs and led him to nearly closed material cycle on his farm. By this, he supports to a more balanced ecosystem in the farm surroundings. At the same time he became more resilient to climate change impacts. However it took the farmer several years to rehabilitate the soil conditions by applying this kind of integrated farming system.
On the 8,400 square meter plot, the farmer has established four ponds for irrigation and fish farming. The space between the pomelo and the lemon trees were 5 m. The mango and tamarind trees were grown along the ponds and the fence with a space of five meter shaped in square. The main product was pomelo; besides this, the farmer has also raised 11 pigs and 100 chickens placed in separate cages to avoid outbreaks of disease. In order to promote the growth of his fruit trees, he applied manure from his pigs, cow dung and chickens. The ground around the trees was covered by rice straw to improve the soil moisture. In addition he had installed drip irrigation pipes to minimize the workload and to save water. For this kind of integrated farming system it is necessary to divide up the plots for the purpose of growing crops, livestock and fish farming; and these areas should interact within the farm.
The farmer gains a large number of benefits from the integrated farming in terms of household consumption and income. It also helps to regulate the natural environment by providing windstorm protection. Another purpose is not to use chemical fertilizer by using manure from livestock. And finally, Pomelo represents an important income source for the farmers and it has a strong market demand. It can be harvested twice a year; From the fourth year of cultivation the yield of one pomelo tree is about 70 to 200 fruits depending on its size ; per fruit the farmer gets about 6000 Riel (2017). The challenge of this technology is the considerable amount of time and money to for establish the technology. Anyway, the farmer expressed difficulties in raising capital to invest into the technology.
Photos of the Technology
- 📍 Kaeng Prasat village, Sambour commune, Sambour district, Kratie province.
- 🗓 2017-07-04
- 📷 Mr. Tim Sophea
- 📍 Kaeng Prasat village, Sambour commune, Sambour district, Kratie province.
- 🗓 2017-07-04
- 📷 Mr. Tim Sophea
- 📍 Kaeng Prasat village, Sambour commune, Sambour district, Kratie province.
- 🗓 2017-07-04
- 📷 Mr.Tim Sophea