- The project focuses on developing human and social capital which is important basis for the sustainability of the project. - Innovations promoted by CEDAC, especially SRI can increase food production and income by using local resources. Farmers will continue to adapt and further develop and disseminate these innovations, since they are appropriate to their needs. - The promotion of good management practices in ecological agriculture and natural resources management contribute to conserve and building up of soil fertility, increasing community ownership in seeds and improve local bio-diversity. Thus, it contributes to the increase the quality of natural capital and the reduction of environmental pollution and natural resources degradation. The improved quality of natural capital and farmer?s ability to control seed resources is solid basis for sustainable livelihood of small farmers in Cambodia. - The project will leave behind agro-ecological communities and ecological farm, which can be used as learning place for other farmers as well as other research and development workers.

The main purpose is to ensure that the farmers possible have access to technical innovations and are implementing ecological agricultural production and farm management well in increasing household food production using environmentally friendly techniques. They are both the means and end of the project. 30 Key farmers are selected by members of the community through a village chief and key person at the village and 15 project partners; they are 10 partners of UNDP and 5 partners of Heifer/CEDAC. They will receive regular training and coaching support from the project. The best key farmers will be qualified as farmer managers or farmer-trainers. Generally, the entry point of the training program is the introduction of good practices in (1) improving system of rice intensification (SRI) and (2) improving ecological chicken raising (ECR) as they are very promising technology for small farmers. The following topics will be provided on (3) the ecological multi-purpose farm (MPF)/improving home garden (fruit tree and vegetable planting, and soil fertility management etc); (4) fish raising (culture); (5) pig raising; (6) EM; (7) a)VBHCD (What is VBHCD?; History of Passing on the Gifts: PoG; Cornerstones; Methods to mainstream VBHCD; Co-mentoring); b) SHG formation and Development (Visioning of SHGs; Structure/Sys/ procedures; 5 stages of SHG; PSRP; Saving scheme; SHG Development path [CD idea: Village to Commune and SHG to Farmer Cooperative; Optional: Farmer association ? Sub Decree; To sustain at Community level) and c) Conclusion (Among 12 Cornerstones, which are the most discussed). Through promoting the ideas and through introducing the concepts of farm design, the project will also explore how the best principles can be incorporated into their practices with key farmers. However, the contents of the training is not only on techniques and proposal development but also on other aspects of farm improvement and marketing such as time management, family-used labour management, improving cook stoves, family health and nutrition, credit and saving, cost calculation and business planning. The training will be conducted in series, and each training session is linked with each other as well as linked with practical application by the farmers. The training methods focus on helping farmers to jointly learn to develop plans, to experiment, to observe, to reflect and to capitalize on their experiences and to share these experiences.