Investigating farmers’ decision-making in adoption of conservation agriculture in the Northwestern uplands of Cambodia

Kong, Rada; Castella, Jean-Christophe; Suos, Vuthy; Leng, Vira; Pat, Sovann; Diepart, Jean-Christophe; Sen, Reaksmey; Tivet, Florent

doi:10.1016/j.landusepol.2021.105404

Cited by 19 publications

(6 citation statements)

References 21 publications

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“…3.2 Hypothesis 1-Environmental water managers have high confidence in making ecological trade off decisions when situations are similar to past lived experiences Environmental water managers were found to be most confident in decision making when they feel the situation is similar to what they have previously experienced (Figure 4), however there was some spread in participant levels of confidence. This result is a common human response with much literature showing that personal experience, especially recent experiences, can be the most frequently drawn on source of information in decision making (Giehl et al, 2017;Ausden and Walsh, 2020;Page and Dilling, 2020;Kong et al, 2021). Two participants showed relatively very high or somewhat high levels of confidence without having been in a similar situation.…”

Section: Demographics and General Response To Uncertaintysupporting

confidence: 53%

“…For example, the scenarios prepared for this research could be modified based on the results of this study and presented at a workshop of environmental water managers and other stakeholders. The scenarios can highlight parameters and inclusion of information deemed of high importance to managers in their decision making process (Kong et al, 2021). Each scenario can be as complex or simple as required and incorporate non flow and social or economic related constraints.…”

Section: Actionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Perhaps, perhaps, perhaps: Navigating uncertainty in environmental flow management

Judd

Horne²,

Bond³

2023

Front. Environ. Sci.

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Uncertainty can be an impediment to decision making and result in decision paralysis. In environmental flow management, system complexity and natural variability increase uncertainty. Climate change provides further uncertainty and can hinder decision making altogether. Environmental flow managers express reluctance to include climate change adaptation in planning due to large knowledge gaps in hydro-ecological relationships. We applied a hybrid method of hypothetical scenarios and closed ended questions within a survey to investigate ecological trade off decision making behaviours and cognitive processes of environmental flow managers. The scenarios provided were both similar to participants’ past experiences, and others were entirely unprecedented and hence unfamiliar. We found managers were more confident making decisions in situations they are familiar with, and most managers show low levels of confidence in making trade off decisions under uncertain circumstances. When given a choice, the most common response to uncertainty was to gather additional information, however information is often unavailable or inaccessible–either it does not exist, or uncertainties are so great that decisions are deferred. Given future rainfall is likely to be different from the past, environmental flow managers must work to adopt robust decision making frameworks that will increase confidence in decision making by acknowledging uncertainties. This can be done through tools developed to address decision making under deep uncertainty. Adapting these tools and methods to environmental flow management will ensure managers can begin to consider likely, necessary future trade-offs in a more informed, transparent and robust manner and increase confidence in decision making under uncertainty.

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Section: Demographics and General Response To Uncertaintysupporting

confidence: 53%

Section: Actionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Perhaps, perhaps, perhaps: Navigating uncertainty in environmental flow management

Judd

Horne²,

Bond³

2023

Front. Environ. Sci.

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“…Previous studies have investigated the decision-making process and perceptions of Cambodian smallholders on the topic of conservation agriculture. Kong et al (2021) created a simulation game to better understand why Cambodian farmers would adopt conservation agriculture. The results suggested that farmers would choose CA approaches in the absence of cash crops when crop productivity declined.…”

Section: Theoretical and Conceptual Frameworkmentioning

confidence: 99%

Conservation agriculture and cover crop adoption by smallholder farmers in Cambodia: Understanding perceptions, challenges, and opportunities for soil improvement

Nickens,

Ader,

Miller

et al. 2023

Adv Ag Dev

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Practical solutions for soil conservation are needed to ensure sustainable food production. Conservation agriculture and the use of cover crops are promising strategies for soil improvement in agricultural systems. These strategies are being promoted in Cambodia to address rapidly declining soil fertility; however, there is a lack of insight into the perceptions of Cambodian smallholders towards cover cropping within a conservation agriculture approach. A greater understanding of the utilization and perceptions of cover crops is needed to increase adoption and prevent further soil degradation. This study utilized a mixed methods approach with quantitative data from a farmer survey and qualitative data gathered from follow-up interviews with farmers. Analysis shows that farmers understand what conservation agriculture is and reported benefits, including increased yields, after practicing conservation agriculture. Conservation agriculture was viewed as a way to protect the environment and increase soil fertility, particularly by using cover crops. However, farmers reported that the use of cover crops as part of a conservation agriculture approach faces challenges, preventing further adoption. Understanding the benefits and challenges for farmers can help improve adoption, leading to improved soil and more resilient agricultural systems. Further research on how to address the challenges presented by farmers is needed.

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“…The second dimension relates to the commodification processes through which agricultural outputs are produced for and inputs obtained from market exchanges (Bernstein, 2010). In Cambodia, resources commodification heightens the influence of market volatility (Kong et al, 2021) and leads to increased risks of losing economic assets including land (Diepart and Middleton, 2022). The vulnerability resulting from these factors incentivizes both a demand for individual, exclusive and secure land rights but also the collateralization of land allowing the uptake of credit.…”

Section: Socio-spatial Reconfigurations At the Command Area Levelmentioning

confidence: 99%

Exclusions in the Cambodian irrigation sector: perspectives from Battambang province

Diepart

Thuon

2022

Cah. Agric.

Self Cite

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This article offers a case study in Battambang province that examines agrarian and land dynamics in an irrigated command area. Building on the “powers of exclusion” framework developed by Hall, Hirsch and Li, we show how irrigation reshapes socio-spatial configurations locally and reinforces the dynamics of social differentiation between smallholder farmers. We argue that the uneven geography of water and the transformation of land ownership structures to which the irrigation project in question contributes run in the opposite direction of a pathway that would support the development of inclusive pro-smallholder irrigation.

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Investigating farmers’ decision-making in adoption of conservation agriculture in the Northwestern uplands of Cambodia

Cited by 19 publications

References 21 publications

Perhaps, perhaps, perhaps: Navigating uncertainty in environmental flow management

Perhaps, perhaps, perhaps: Navigating uncertainty in environmental flow management

Conservation agriculture and cover crop adoption by smallholder farmers in Cambodia: Understanding perceptions, challenges, and opportunities for soil improvement

Exclusions in the Cambodian irrigation sector: perspectives from Battambang province

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