RCE Greater Phnom Penh - 2018

Moving toward sustainable production and consumption through ESD: Case study of Kampong Cham Province, Cambodia
Basic Information
Title of project : 
Moving toward sustainable production and consumption through ESD: Case study of Kampong Cham Province, Cambodia
Submitting RCE: 
RCE Greater Phnom Penh
Contributing organization(s) : 
Royal University of Agriculture, Cambodia, Provincial Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (PDAFF), Kampong Cham, Kampong Cham National School of Agriculture (KPCNSA) and Farmers Groups for Promoting Sustainable Agriculture
Focal point(s) and affiliation(s)
Name: 
Jeeranuch Sakkhamduang
Organizational Affiliation: 
Institute of Environmental Rehabilitation and Conservation, Southeast Asia Office
Name: 
Nareth Nut, Lecturer, Faculty of Agricultural Engineering
Organizational Affiliation: 
Royal University of Agriculture, Cambodia
Format of project: 
PowerPoint
Language of project: 
English/Khmer
Date of submission:
Saturday, June 30, 2018
Additional resources: 
www.rua.ac.kh
The project link to the policies of Royal University of Agriculture, Cambodia and Kampong Cham National School of Agriculture for promoting university students to involve in agricultural extension activity/project
At what level is the policy operating?: 
Subnational
Geographical & Education Information
Region: 
Asia-Pacific
Country: 
Cambodia
Location(s): 
Kampong Cham province
Address of focal point institution for project: 
Institute of Environmental Rehabilitation and Conservation
in Royal University of Agriculture,
P.O.Box 2696 Chamkar Daung, Dangkor District, Phnom Penh, Cambodia
Office phone: (+855)23 6777 166
Mobile: (+855)98 404 130/(+855)89 222 402
Ecosystem(s):
Target Audience:
Socioeconomic and environmental characteristics of the area : 
In Kampong Cham province, agriculture is the main occupation. The Makong River runs through the province and divides the province to lowland and upland field. Paddy rice and vegetables are the main products in lowland while in the upland, rubber plant, cassava, cashew nut and pepper are the main products.
Description of sustainable development challenge(s) in the area the project addresses: 
The usage of chemical fertilizers and pesticides has significantly increased to promote agricultural productivity. However, due to the inappropriate use of agricultural chemicals such as overuse and application without sufficient knowledge, it has caused various problems to human and environmental health. Although agricultural productivity has increased temporarily, environmental issues such as soil degradation due to less organic contents, water degradation such as eutrophication, etc. have occurred
Contents
Status: 
Ongoing
Rationale: 
There is the insufficient in term of agricultural extension services in Cambodia. Moreover, the most popular channel to get agricultural news and knowledge was the communication between farmers. It implies that farmers should be focused to support extension officers to extend knowledge and agricultural techniques. To enhance ability of extension officers and farmers, Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) is the key approach of the project. The project of Promoting Sustainable Agricultural Conditions for Poverty Reduction in Kampong Cham Province, Cambodia of RCE Greater Phnom Penh aims to promote sustainable agricultural conditions through various forms of education for change agents (agricultural extension officers) and farmers in the province.
Objectives: 
The followings are the main project’s components.
1. Building capacity on sustainable agriculture based on cyclic use of natural resources in PDAFF and District Office of Agriculture (DOA) regarding dissemination skills and knowledge from soft (knowledge, skills) to hard (facilities) measures
2. Promoting sustainable farming practices based on cyclic use of natural resources for local farmers
3. Promoting conditions for sales of agricultural products with low chemical inputs.
Activities and/or practices employed: 
Trainings and workshops related to sustainable agricultural practices are provided to extensional officers and farmers. Farmers who attended the training and workshop share their knowledge to their neighbors. Agricultural materials such as compost boxes and tanks for making liquid fertilizer are provided to famers. Networks of safety agricultural products will be formed and marketing channel for the products will be introduced to farmers in the final year of the project.
Size of academic audience: 
At least 35 agricultural extension officers and 1,000 farmers in the province will receive knowledge of sustainable agriculture from the project.
Results: 
Through the series of activities of this three years project, it is expected that agricultural extension officers and farmers gained more knowledge of sustainable farming systems and change their practices from conventional one which are relying heavily on agrochemicals to sustainable farming practices. We expect that the changes will lead to poverty reduction, healthy producers, consumers and environment. Moreover, through the ESD focus areas, the understanding and awareness of sustainability, especially on consumption and production will spread to the public in Kampong Cham province. RCE Greater Phnom Penh also expects that the outcomes from this project are applicable to the whole country of Cambodia.
Lessons learned: 
This is an ongoing project, but the challenges we face during the project implementation include the low literate level of famers. It makes us to improve our conventional outreaches such as pamphlet or handout to demonstration which can engage more farmers and make them more understand the content/message. Closely monitoring or farm visit is one of the practices that encourage farmers to practice more of sustainable agriculture practices.
Key messages: 
To end hunger and promoting responsible consumption and production, smallholder farmer is the fundamental of the change which leads to the goals. Education for sustainable development is indispensable to provide to smallholder farmers to change their conventional agricultural practice to sustainable farming practices.
Funding: 
The project is funded by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Japan

Pictures:

File Name Caption for picture Photo Credit
Image icon photo1.jpg (3.22 MB) Workshop of soil conservation Jeeranuch Sakkhamduang
Image icon photo2.jpg (2.56 MB) Demonstration of making liquid fertilizer from agricultural wastes Jeeranuch Sakkhamduang
UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
(https://sustainabledevelopment.un.org/sdgs) and other themes of Education for Sustainable Development (ESD)
SDG 2 - End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition, and promote sustainable agriculture 
Direct
SDG 4 - Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all 
Direct
SDG 12 - Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns 
Direct
Theme
Agriculture 
Direct
Waste 
Indirect
Global Action Programme (GAP) on Education for Sustainable Development – Priority Action Areas
Priority Action Area 2 - Transforming learning and training environments 
Direct
Priority Action Area 3 - Building capacities of educators and trainers 
Direct
Priority Action Area 5 - Accelerating sustainable solutions at local level 
Direct
Update: 
No