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Current Situation of Cassava Production, Constraints and Opportunities in Cambodia

2016; Science Publishing Group; Volume: 5; Issue: 3 Linguagem: Inglês

10.11648/j.aff.20160503.16

2328-563X

Wenjun Ou,

Banana Cultivation and Research

Within the framework of Cambodia-China-UNDP South-South Cooperation Cassava Project Phase II, the need assessment of cassava production in Cambodia was carried out in order to understand the current situation of the cultivation practices of cassava. A survey was conducted with 138 cassava growers in two provinces (Kampong Cham and Pailin) to understand their current situation of cassava cultivation practices and their constraints. The data were supplemented with semi-structured interviews with 12 key informants. Results indicate that cassava farmers in both Kampong Cham and Pailin provinces are smallholder-based, with an average owned cassava cultivated land of 1.01 ha and 3.55 ha, respectively. Farmers use different cassava varieties, which are most imported from Thailand and Vietnam. Most of the farmers in Kampong Cham province plant cassava stem cuttings horizontally, while all farmers in Pailin province grow them vertically. The planting space was similar (between 60 cm and 80 cm) in both provinces. Farmers grow cassava continuously on the same field and do not intercrop with other crops. And farmers apply little or no organic and inorganic amendments to the cassava field. In 2013, the cassava production cost was US$ 845 ha -1 in Kampong Cham and US$ 981 ha -1 in Pailin. Of this, labor costs for harvesting accounts for 30% and 38% in these provinces, respectively. Farmers generated a gross margin of US$ 682 ha -1 in Kampong Cham and US$ 834 ha -1 in Pailin. In Cambodia, cassava yields can be markedly improved by growing better adapted cassava varieties and by improving soil fertility management and erosion control.