From 2007-2011 the Dutch Farmers’ Federation LTO Noord conducted a special project in which farmers, together with knowledge organizations, specialists and authorities investigated the impact of climate change on crop cultivation and on livestock farming in the Northern provinces of the Netherlands. Presentation of the Dutch approach during the UN Climate Conference in Copenhagen (2009) initiated international follow-up.
Some 50 farmers’ organisations from all over the world were invited to describe their experiences and the bottlenecks arising as result of a changing climate. In the end, 15 contributions were received. The national farmers’ organisation CFAP in Cambodia was selected as one of the most promising and, in its submission it outlined the vulnerability of Cambodian agriculture to drought and flooding.
The infrastructure for water supply and discharge is inadequate. There is a shortage of water in the dry season. And in addition, periods of drought, in particular early in the rainy season, are causing damage to the newly planted rice. Groundwater has been tapped on a large scale in recent years but an increasing number of wells are falling dry. This restricts the possibilities of counteracting the effects of drought and heat stress by means of irrigation. And it also makes it impossible to broaden the farm by means of vegetable cultivation.
Objectives:
- Spreading the knowledge about climate change
- Support farmers’ federations in tackling the problems farmers are facing as result of climate change
- Realizing adaptation to this changing situation in order to protect farmers livelihoods and (global) food security
Results:
- Farmers are learning from farmers (motto of Agriterra) and this is very effective
- Knowledge can be disseminated and shared via the farmers’ network
- The knowledge and experience of LTO Noord in the field of climate adaptation is of great benefit to farmers’ organisations that are facing climate change
Find out more here: www.agriterra.org