Findings from VRA on 17th October 2012 at Wat Speu Tbong, Sambor Tbong village, Msar Krang commune, Stoung district, Kampong Thom province showed significant climate change impacts in Msar Krong as evident since 1995 with increased heat waves, insufficient rainfall, flooding and storms. Agricultural production is increasingly at risk to these natural disasters with resultant consequences such as rice dying out, rice bearing no fruits, or damage, animal and human diseases, crop infestation by pest, and loss of soil fertility. Without sufficient water for irrigation rice yield is low. The project seeks to address the impacts from such natural disasters with main activities including rehabilitation and maintenance of an existing canal at Msar Krang, Oh Dong canal (2,000m long, 10 m top width, 3m bottom width and 3.5m depth).
Objective: To build local capacity to adapt more effectively to climate extreme events such as flood and drought.
Objective 1: To promote livelihood of the vulnerable groups to build their capacity to adapt to climate extreme events such as flood and drought at Msar Krang commune, Stoung district, Kampong Thom commune. This can be done through rehabilitation of a 2000m irrigation canal, Oh Dong canal.
Outcome 1.1: 770 HHs improved their food production with a rehabilitated canal, 2000m long.
Output 1.1.1: An eroded and dysfunctional canal 2000m long at Msar Krong is rehabilitated and in use to irrigate 960 ha wet season rice by 770 HHs, and 360 ha dry season rice by 335 HHs.
Output 1.1.2: A commune level water management committee of 5 members, 2 women, and four village level water management sub-committees of 20 members, 8 women, from villages next to the canal, established with necessary capacity to manage water use.
Output 1.1.3: 550 farmers, 40% women, from 11 villages, 50 from each village, received training on climate change impacts and adaptation.
Outcome 2.1: Farmers from 165 HHs contributed to saving fund to help community members in need and also acquired knowledge on household farming technology to enhance their income and food security.
Output 2.1.1: 11 new saving groups of 165 HHs established each with a management of 3 members and also received additional capital to diversify livelihood and reduce borrows from private money lenders.
Output 2.1.2: 165 HH members of the saving groups have acquired necessary knowledge on integrated farming including vegetable, fish and dry season rice farming, and put the knowledge to practice.