Title: Diversity of rice cropping systems and organic rice adoption in agro-ecosystem with high risk of flood in Cambodia

Authors: Malyne Neang; Philippe Méral; Olivier Aznar; Christophe Déprés

Addresses: Ecoland Research Centre, Royal University of Agriculture (RUA), Faculty of Agricultural Economics and Rural Development, Dangkor District, Phnom Penh, Cambodia ' Institut de Recherche pour le Développement - UMR GRED, Université Paul-Valéry - St Charles, Route de Mende 34 199, Montpellier Cedex 5, France ' VetAgro Sup - UMR 1273 Territoires, Université Clermont Auvergne, 89 Avenue de l'Europe - BP 35, F-63370 Lempdes, France ' VetAgro Sup - UMR 1273 Territoires, Université Clermont Auvergne, 89 Avenue de l'Europe - BP 35, F-63370 Lempdes, France

Abstract: In Cambodia, 85% of farmers are rice producers. Organic rice production has been adopted, with non-government organisation support and certifications, to improve farmers' revenue for sustainable rural development. This study aims to define the constraints of organic rice adoption in an agro-ecosystem with high risk of flood. Using agrarian system diagnosis and analysis, it is found in the study that organic rice gives high value-added per hectare but low value-added per family labour because of the less non-flooded surface available to avoid chemical contamination, to enlarge organic rice surface. Moreover, organic farmers face lower social status because organic production practices are viewed as old-fashioned tools use by the poor farmers and that will not help them escape poverty. Another institutional constraint is that organic farmers face late payment from their cooperative until the rice is on-sold. This study finds that the price premium for organic rice is not high enough to induce adoption of this cropping practice. However, organic farmers are well trained, produce high-quality rice and are model farmers who participate in policy-making events, which encourage them to continue to produce organic rice.

Keywords: agrarian system diagnosis and analysis; Tonle Sap Lake; rice production system; rice cropping system; short-term rice; rainy season rice; floating rice; organic rice; economics calculation.

DOI: 10.1504/IJARGE.2017.088402

International Journal of Agricultural Resources, Governance and Ecology, 2017 Vol.13 No.4, pp.351 - 370

Received: 04 May 2017
Accepted: 27 Aug 2017
Published online: 05 Dec 2017 *

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