Farmers’ perceptions on cassava cultivation in Cambodia

Abstract

Cassava is one of the most important upland crops of Cambodia. While improved technologies are needed for sustainable production of the crop, their adoption depends on how farmers view cassava against other crops. The objective of this study was to assess the perception of Cambodian farmers on growing cassava, relative to other upland crops. The study was conducted in Kampong Cham province in Northeast Cambodia which has the largest cassava production area in the country. Secondary data on production and price of cassava and other crops were collected, and 45 households in four cassava production zones were interviewed to obtain information on farmer’s perceptions on cassava and other crops. The results showed that production of cassava and other upland crops in Cambodia has increased substantially during recent years, reflecting increased market demand and improved prices. Farmers in the study area in Kampong Cham province regard rice and cassava as their priority crops, and have a greater preference for growing them than other crops, including maize, soybean, mungbean, peanut, sesame and rubber. Rice, however, is grown mainly for domestic consumption, while cassava is grown as a source of cash income. The marketing aspects of the crop, i.e., good price and easy to sell, were the most important considerations for farmers’ strong preference for cassava relative to other upland crops. With the current trend of favorable marketing conditions, cassava production in Cambodia is anticipated to expand further, while farmers are also likely to adopt improved technologies that will sustain or improve their cassava yields, even if involving extra input costs. These findings can potentially be used as a basis for the further development and extension of technologies for sustainable production of cassava in Cambodia. Keywords: Cassava production, upland crops, farmers’ preference, farmers’ attitude, technology adoption.