Empowering Women Farmers in Cambodia: Leading the Charge in Sustainable Agriculture

Empowering Women Farmers in Cambodia: Leading the Charge in Sustainable Agriculture

DSR Cambodia Use Case: Change Story

Women and different experiences with direct seeding

Women farmers who shifted to direct seeding in Cambodia generally obtain lower yields than men, as observed from a survey of 1200 rice farmers in 2022-23. The EiA Use Case on mechanized direct seeded rice (mDSR) involves women to ensure inclusivity of the benefits from mDSR, ensuring that women farmers will get better rice yields.

Researchers obtained puzzling results from the mDSR validation (or demo trials) in 2021 and 2022. Some women farmers, who obtain exactly the same support and technical advice as male farmers, still get lower yields. The yields obtained by women can be lower by up to one ton per hectare compared to their male counterparts within the same area.

During a group discussion in 2022, the women highlighted that when they establish the rice crop, they are usually delayed compared with men farmers. They had to wait for their turn because the seeder service provider was still busy. This reflects that while men and women who test mDSR are treated similarly, the women have different social networks and access to resources and will thus have different experiences with mDSR.

A different approach: Prioritize women for seeder access

In 2023, women were engaged differently in EiA, through an approach that allowed women to get priority access to a seeder service. A group of 24 farmers in Ang Baksei Village, Tram Kak District, Takeo volunteered to test mDSR in the wet season of 2023. There were 12 women, on average 52 years old, who joined the activity.

The farmers tested the use of seeding machines with improved agronomic practice (including 100-120 kg/ha seed rate and improved weed management), comparing it with their own practice of manual broadcast seeding at higher seed rates (200 to 250 kg/ha). The women were supported to access the seeder service provider when they needed it. In comparison, the men followed the same method and obtained technical advice for mDSR, but did not get help accessing the services.

Figure 1. Men and women farmers interacting with seeder manufacturer and learning from other farmers who completed mDSR trials

Perspectives from some of the women

While help was welcome, the women were initially apprehensive to join the demo-trials.  Srey Lim*, 48 years old, leads the household, while her husband works outside of the town as a construction worker. She is taking care of her 93-year-old mother, alongside three children, a son-in-law, and a 10-month-old grandson. She manages roughly a hectare of rice fields, supplementing the family’s income from her husband’s salary. She often has a difficult time during land preparation due to a lack of assistance from her family. She needs to depend on others to implement these farm activities. Her challenges included waiting for her turn to get machine services, as well as coordinating with service providers and agricultural cooperatives. Mrs. Lim was also concerned about mDSR, knowing the water scarcity she often experienced during the crop establishment period.

A widow at 42 years old, Dara Pich* takes care of her family’s 0.6-hectare rice field while also working as a tailor in the village. Dara was keen to try new technologies that could get higher benefits so that she could continue supporting her children’s education. She had to depend on services and needed to manage the finances while juggling both the farm and the household. She felt that the scarcity of rice seeding machines and water resources would pose significant challenge for her in doing mDSR.

*Not real name

Learning together

The women commonly expressed how they learned from participation. The learning not only included aspects of direct seeding and machines, but also about managing water and weeds, or identifying pests.  They noted how doing the mDSR trials required meticulous work and attention. The women also highlighted the benefits of cooperating with other women, and the interaction they had as part of this group.

Figure 2. Women farmers from Tram Kak, Takeo shared their experience about trying mDSR on their farms

Reflecting on the reluctance of some women to participate, Mrs. Lim identified factors such as illiteracy, distance of their house from meeting venues, and the demanding nature of household responsibilities that limit women’s confidence and opportunity to join.

Can women get better yields from mDSR?

At the end of the season, the group of men and women proved that mDSR can provide higher rice yields compared with farmers’ practice. They obtained 17% higher yield (at 3.8 tons per hectare), which is significantly different for the men and women who joined from Tram Kak District. Women, observed that despite challenges such as a lack of rain and irrigation, weed issues, and others they were able to get higher yields than they expected.

In this activity by men and women farmers, the question was whether women can benefit from mDSR in the same way as men, if they had priority and timely access to mDSR service. There was no significant difference observed in the yields obtained by women and men, where women were priority.

Figure 3. Yields obtained under mDSR by women (mDSR-f) compared with yields obtained by men (mDSR-m) in Tram Kak, Takeo during wet season 2023.

The women who joined observed significantly higher yields with mDSR compared to their own farmer’s practice plots. The women had 6.4% (230 kg/ha) higher yields with mDSR. They note that this is more than 4 bags of paddy per hectare increase in yield, while they used less than half the amount of seeds at the start. They also think this is less costly for pest and weed management, although they need to be more aware of the pests and not spray indiscriminately.

A key learning noted by the women was the importance of coordination support by the leader of the agricultural cooperative. Without the crucial support, they could not coordinate as a group and schedule with the service providers. These efforts have not only bridged knowledge gaps but have also equipped farmers with the tools and insights needed to implement innovative techniques, optimize resource usage, and address challenges effectively.

Women like Dara observed benefits from using different agricultural practices through mDSR. These include increased yield, better profits, and enhanced interaction among the group. Srey Lim emphasizes the need for technical skill training in rice cultivation and support mechanisms for farmers. Additionally, the scarcity of seeder machines and water sources poses significant obstacles for more women to benefit from mDSR. While women cannot operate the seeding machines themselves, they show they can overcome challenges and work together to improve their farming.

As we celebrate the International Day of Rural Women and World Food Day, it’s important to recognize the pivotal role that rural women play in food production, food security, and sustainable agriculture. In Cambodia, women farmers are leading the way in transforming rice cultivation through mechanized direct-seeded rice (mDSR), a key innovation in modern agriculture.

For decades, rural women have been the backbone of agrifood systems, and today, they are at the forefront of innovations like mDSR. However, women farmers often face unique challenges—particularly in accessing resources and technology—that result in lower yields compared to men. With support from the Excellence in Agronomy (EiA) initiative, a shift is happening.

Celebrating Rural Women and Food Security

As we honor rural women and highlight food security this week, the story of women farmers in Cambodia reflects the broader global commitment to empowering rural women and transforming agrifood systems. Their contributions are critical to achieving a world where food is sustainable, equitable, and available for all.