Based on VRA assessment conducted on 27 April 2011with the participation of 67 villagers, 30 female, 2 community representatives, 8 local authorities, from Lvear, Sangke, and Uppama villages, a project proposal is developed to respond to the problems facing local communities. According to the VRA findings, most villagers in the target area face with several negative impacts of CC including severe water shortage for irrigation and for livestock raising, particularly after prolonged drought. In addition to limited access to farmland, traditional farming practices, poor soil, and inappropriate application of chemical fertilizers and pesticides result in soil degradation and rice yield drops to below 2.3 tonnes per hectare, and this has led to food shortage almost every year, (See appendix 3).
To respond to the issues identified above, the project will help mitigate the challenges facing local people, particularly the poor farmers and women headed households, through the implementation of below initiatives:
1. Rehabilitation, in collaboration with Prey Veng provincial DoWRAM, of a canal, 2,100m long, top width 6m, bottom width 2, and 2 m depth, to hold water for wet season rice irrigation over 962.64 ha by 320 households in Sean Kvear commune;
2. Establishment of a canal management committee for the three target villages of 6 members, 2 female, to manage the canal and water allocation, conflict resolution, and maintenance of the planted trees, and management of the rice bank;
3. The project will provide training on improved agriculture for 260 target participants, 45 female, with climate resistant rice strains received from various provincial Departments of Agriculture (DOA) and in close collaboration with Prey Veng DoA. Moreover, the project will provide integrated agriculture technologies, including household vegetable, chicken, duck, pig, fish farming along with composting techniques; and
4. Selection of 40 households to pilot 4 new rice strains promoted by MAFF, and establishment of a rice bank for the commune to contribute to sharing new rice seeds to farming in both inside and outside of the target area.
In implementing the initiatives, the project will work closely with DoA, DoWRAM, local authorities, and NGOs to ensure capacity to adapt to CC is built in the area. The project will raise awareness in 13 target villages on CC and its impacts and therefore community preparedness for eventual consequences of the CC. Awareness on adverse effects of chemical application and their appropriate use will also be raised and with the message to promote application of manure and compost.
1.2 Goal
To reduce vulnerability of the communities in 13 villages in Seang Kveang commune, Kamchay Mea district, Prey Veng province, to droughts and enhance their capacity to adapt to change in rainfall pattern.
1.3 Expected outcome
Outcome 1: Vulnerability of 2,246 local villagers, 1,141 women, in 3 villages of Seang Kveang commune, to CC reduced through the more effective management and use of water for an improved agriculture production from a rehabilitated canal, 2,100 m long, bottom width 2m, top width 6m and depth 2m; and
Outcome 2: Rice yield by 260 farmers, at least 100 women, in 13 villages in Seang Kveang commune, increased from 2.3 to 4 tonnes per hectare from application of new variety and their application of knowledge gained from training provided by the project.
1.4 Main expected outputs:
Output 1.1 (Outcome 1): A canal management committee established with 6 members, 2 female, to monitor the canal rehabilitation process, and management of water allocation and conflict solution, and management of planted trees and rice bank;
Output 1.2 (Outcome 1): A canal 2,100 m long, 2 m bottom width, 6m top width, and 2 m depth, dredged by the end of March 2012 and used as a main water supply for Seang Kveang commune to irrigate 962.64 ha rice by 2,246 farmers, 1,141 female, from 580 households in 3 villages including Uppama, Lvea and Sangke villages;
Output 1.3 (Outcome 1): By the end of May 2012, 1,350 saplings planted on the dike to help protect the dike from erosion and also to provide shade;
Output 2.1 (Outcome 2): 10 three-day trainings on improved rice farming delivered for 260 participants, at least 100 female, from 13 villages in Seang Kveang, each training for 26 participants;
Output 2.2 (Outcome 2): Knowledge gained from training applied by 40 households selected from among 260 participants;
Output 2.3 (Outcome 2): A rice bank established, in which 260 households participate, to ensure sufficient stock of rice for use in the community;
Output 2.4 (Outcome 2): Reduction of vulnerability to CC monitored and assessed after 1 year project implementation; and
Output 2.5 (Outcome 2): End of the project evaluation done by an independent consultant to provide a reflection of results and performance of the project overall for submission to donor.
1.4 Major project activities
Output 1.1 (Outcome 1):
Activities
- Public meetings, a day in each of 3 villages - Lvea, Uppama and Sangke ? to identify criteria for selection of 6 members, 2 female, for canal management committee in Seang Kveang commune and raise awareness of the project objectives;
- One day meeting to select canal management committee with the participation of local authority and beneficiaries, with the endorsement to the result by the local authorities and provincial DoWRAM; and
- 3-day training to strengthen capacity of the selected committee members on canal maintenance, water allocation, conflict resolution, development of internal rule and by law for the committee.
Output 1.2 (Outcome 1):
Activities
- One day meeting with 16 members of village and commune authorities and 6 canal management committee members to form a procurement committee for the rehabilitation of the canal and the installation of sluice gate;
- 8 awareness raising events, 1 day each, with villagers in the commune to announce the plan for the canal rehabilitation and the installation of sluice gate, as well as on the selection of contractor for the work;
- Ground breaking event to start canal dredging and the installation of the sluice gate attended by district governor and local authorities and relevant provincial line departments; and
- Monitoring and evaluation of the canal dredging and sluice gate building process, and the quality of the construction and follow up with water allocation and management by the canal management committee.
Output 1.3 (Outcome 1):
Activities
- Entering in to MoU with DKC in Kampong Cham for supply of 1,350 saplings of Neang nuon, korki, and Chheutel at Kh Riel 2,000 per sapling for planting on the dike;
- Half day meeting with local authority and canal management committee on organizing tree planting day;
- Organizing a tree planting event attended by 334participants including 8 from local authority, 6 canal management committee, and 320 local villagers; and
- Monitoring the survival of the planted trees and their maintenance.
Output 2.1 (Outcome 2):
Activities
- 7 days meeting to define criteria for selection of 260 farmers from 13 villages to participate in training on improved rice farming including on land preparation, transplanting, care, and harvesting, and production of bio-fertilizer and bio-pesticide;
- Provision, in collaboration with Prey Veng provincial DoA, of 10 trainings for 260 farmers, at least 100 female, from 260 households in 13 villages of Seang Kveang commune on improved rice production, production of bio-fertilizer and bio-pesticide and provision of 2 kg to each participating household, each training is for 3 days and for 26 participants;
Output 2.2 (Outcome 2):
Activities
- 5 days selection and listing of 40 volunteers from among 260 households to pilot demonstration with 4 rice varieties promoted by MAFF;
- Coaching 40 volunteers on process for demonstration of 4 rice strains promoted by MAFF in collaboration with Prey Veng provincial DoA;
- Organizing a field day for 1 day to demonstrate the process and results by 40 volunteers to other farmers in the commune and other communities and giving award to 10 volunteers for their best results; and
- Monitoring regularly the implementation by 260 households and the 40 volunteers with the 4 rice strains.
Output 2.3 (Outcome 2):
Activities
- 4 days meeting to raise awareness on how to establish rice back and to receive contribution from 260 members of the bank and store them in the bank;
- Provision of 3 days training for 6 rice bank management committee members who are also canal management committee members on the rice bank management process, development of policy, internal rule and by-law; and
- Monitoring performance of the rice bank including the management, collection of contribution from members, seed distribution and payback.
Output 2.4 (Outcome 2)
Activities
- 1 day VRA with 67 participants including target farmers, local authority, and community members from the 3 villages to track the change after implementation of activities under the project; and
- Organizing a workshop to share findings from VRA to 67 participants and a reflection of the success with neighboring local authorities and communities from other 10 villages;