Summary
This mixed-methods case study in Battambang Province investigates the emerging cover crop seed value chain in Cambodia, documenting substantial growth in Crotalaria production over six years but finding profitability modest relative to maize monoculture. Whilst 90% of rice farmers reported soil fertility improvements, economic constraints and climatic setbacks limited achievement of production targets, and stakeholder analysis reveals a complex landscape requiring coordinated action to scale agroecological adoption.
UK applicability
The findings on cover crop profitability and stakeholder coordination challenges have limited direct applicability to UK conditions, where cover crops are already well-established in policy and practice; however, the participatory value chain methodology and stakeholder mapping approach may be transferable to understanding barriers to adoption of other agroecological practices in UK farming systems.
Key measures
Cover crop seed production area (hectares); net profit differential ($/ha/year); farmer perceptions of soil fertility improvement and scaling barriers; stakeholder mapping and influence analysis
Outcomes reported
The study documented rapid expansion of cover crop seed production (from 2 ha in 2017 to 177 ha in 2023), primarily Crotalaria species, and assessed profitability, farmer incentives, and barriers to scaling adoption in rice-based systems. It mapped the stakeholder network and identified economic and climatic constraints limiting further uptake despite widespread farmer observations of soil fertility improvements.
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