Tropentag, September 10 - 12, 2025, Bonn "Reconciling land system changes with planetary health"

Scaling cover crops to advance agroecological and regenerative practices in cambodia

¹Bern University of Applied Sciences (BFH), School of Agricultural, Forest and Food Sciences (HAFL), Switzerland
²Bern University of Applied Sciences (BFH), School of Agricultural, Forest and Food Sciences (HAFL), Switzerland
³Conservation Agriculture Service Center (CASC), Cambodia
⁴French Agricultural Research Centre for International Development, France

Abstract

In Cambodia, cover crops (CC) are being explored as a regenerative agricultural practice to improve soil health and enhance farmers’ livelihoods. Since 2004, initiatives led by the General Directorate of Agriculture (GDA), the French agricultural research organisation CIRAD, and the NGO Swisscontact Cambodia have introduced CC into rubber production systems, later extending their application to rice-based farming. In recent years, private companies, public institutions, agricultural cooperatives, and non-profit organisations have become increasingly involved in the development of the CC sector. This shift toward commercially oriented operations prompted us to investigate into the value chain of cover crop seeds and an analysis of the stakeholder network, with the aim of identifying key challenges and opportunities for development. This case study employed a mixed-methods approach in two districts—Rattanak Mondoul and Kanghot—in Battambang Province. Data collection tools included: (i) an agroeconomic assessment (2023–2024) and (ii) a survey of 23 seed producers; (iii) four focus group discussions with 23 rice farmers using CC; (iv) 19 key informant interviews with stakeholders from diverse organisations; and (v) a multi-stakeholder workshop. Both qualitative and quantitative data were gathered from primary and secondary sources. Findings indicate a rapid expansion in CC seed production, from 2 ha in 2017 to 177 ha in 2023, primarily involving Crotalaria ochroleuca and Crotalaria juncea. Seed producers reported average earnings of USD 261/ha/year from CC seed production, compared to USD 396/ha/year from maize. They cited soil fertility improvement (12 of 23) and profitability (11 of 23) as the main incentives for cultivating CC seeds. In 2023, seed production was expected to reach 288.5 ha, but this target was not met due to lack of specific equipment (no-till planters) and unfavourable climatic conditions. While rice farmers observed notable improvements in soil fertility (21 of 23), they identified economic and climatic constraints (22 of 23) as major barriers to scaling the practice. Stakeholder mapping revealed a diverse landscape, reflecting varying levels of influence and interest. Based on the participatory process, the study examines how practice- and impact-based incentives could support the sustainable scaling of CC in Cambodia.

Keywords: Agroecology, cover crops, Farmers’ perception, Participatory process, Regenerative agriculture, Stakeholder mapping, Value chain analysis

Contact Address: Quentin à Hauariki, Bern University of Applied Sciences (BFH), School of Agricultural, Forest and Food Sciences (HAFL), Kreuzgasse 9, 3053 Münchenbuchsee, Switzerland, e-mail: quentin.ahauarikibfh.ch