CEDAC - Improving Soil Fertility and Water Holding Capacity to Increase Agricultural Productivity of Small Farmers in Kampong Chhnang Province

i. Improving the capacity of farmers to explore appropriate bio-char and bio-slurry compounds for application to the soil to obtain optimal soil conditioning for their circumstances, especially better soil fertility and higher water retention capacity. ii. Improving gender justice through the introduction of new technologies and management practices, and mitigating climate change through increased carbon capture in the soil and reduced use of fuel wood. 20 experienced farmers (from pilot phase) will be confirmed for continued experimentation and another 20 farmers will be selected for training to become knowledgeable experimental farmers, 20 bio-char stoves will be distributed for experimental purposes, 10 demonstration sites will be set up as learning sites1 bio-char stove blacksmith workshop will be set up with support from the project, 150 farmer families will increase agriculture production yield especially rice and vegetable through adapting bio-char and bio-slurry as optimal input for the production. By doing so, income generation and food security are gradually improved as well. They will not be active experimenters, but will learn from experimental result The carbon in the soil well be measured, as well the social impact of introducing these technical activities The amount of fuel wool save of cooperating/experiment farmer, The responsibilities and benefits are shared among men and women, of different age group and levels of wealth will be measured, At least one publication on result of the project on appropriate composition of bio-char and bio-slurry as well as capacity of stove will be compiled and shared, The project will be engaged with Prek Leap National School of Agriculture (PNSA) PROLINNOVA member and Farmer and Nature Net in terms of knowledge sharing and measuring carbon in soils. NA