Implementing Agency:
Department For International Development (PAND)

Managing Institute:
Concern Worldwide

Contractor:
Concern Worldwide - Cambodia

Project Code: 144-680-026	Start Date: 01/04/1995	End Date: 31/03/1998
Commitment: £356,863	Status: Awaiting Confirmation of Completion	Type of Funding: Bilateral - JFS

Project Background:
In line with the rest of the country, during the 1975-9 period Kompong Chhnang suffered as a result of severe damage to roads, towns, schools and government offices. This was followed by more than a decade of civil war, unrest and uncertainty. Government services in the province as a result are poor. The problems faced by the target group are typical of those faced by the population as a whole, but exacerbated by their poverty.

Income generation from the forest has declined as the forest productivity has declined, so that the forest is now only able to supply household firewood needs, occasional wild food plants, medicines and poor quality rattan. The target area suffers from low rice yields, minimal diversification of agricultural production and limited exploitation of income generation possibilities. Profitable markets for fresh vegetables in the dry season remain unexploited due to the lack of water for production. Animal production is beset by problems of ill health, with 60-70% of chickens dying every year during the dry season (March-April), 5-10% of cattle dying annually of disease, about 20% of buffalo calves dying before the age of six months and all animals showing poor productivity because of inadequate nutrition, poor husbandry and widespread parasite infection. Water supplies dry up some months before the rains begin and those wells which continue to function have much reduced yields. Under heavy use they will dry up in the early morning and users will have to wait for the well to refill, restricting water availability for household use.

Project Objectives:
The project aims to assist the poor to meet their basic needs through sustainable forestry production, improved crops and vegetable production, animal husbandry and water supply.

To assist the poorest people within the villages of Kompong Tralach and Rolea Phiear districts to meet their basic needs through sustainable forestry production and improved crop and vegetable production, animal husbandry and water supply.

To improve local self reliance by encouraging the target group to analyse their problems and identify solutions through experimentation.

To improve villagers' supply of timber and non timber products in a sustainable fashion by the rehabilitation of degraded forest land and afforestation within villages.

To improve the target group's staple crop yields and exploitation of limited land around homesteads.

To enhance villagers' incomes through improved animal production.

To improve the quality and quantity of water supply.

Intended Outputs:
Workable agreements made with Forestry Dept.

Village Forestry Management Committees formed and workable.

Increased supply of forest products for villages.

870 contact farmers and 3,400 non contact farmers participating in project.

Improved staple crop, fruit and vegetable yield.

30 VLAs trained and working.

Raised income from animal production.

Improved animal vaccination rates.

147 hand dug wells completed.