Economic opportunities for off-season chilli and tomato production and marketing in Kampot Province

What are the economic possibilities for off-season chilli and tomato production and marketing for lowland rice farmers in Cambodia? There are both opportunities and constraints to improving farm income and supply a growing domestic market. Vegetable economic prospect analysis, including risk assessment, was developed to compare normal farming systems (dry season vegetable production) with a new system (offseason vegetable production). Focus group discussions were conducted with 15-20 growers in three villages of Koun Sat Commune in Kampot Province. These farmers have an average annual income of S$1,137 per family, with many sources of non-rice and non-crop income. On average, they plant 0.05 ha of vegetables on a 0.5 ha farm. Vegetable yields in experimental plots are very high, but these have not yet been translated into yields achieved on farms. The economic return (measured by gross margin) is not substantially appealing unless high on-farm yields can be achieved. We conclude that the use of improved technologies, including improved seeds and production methods, can improve domestic vegetable production and farm income. But more action is needed to enable translation of yields obtainable in experiments to yields achieved on farms. Further study of specific vegetable production methods in the wet season – including greenhouse vegetable production and use of rain shelters, is warranted to prevent vegetables becoming wet in this new production system.