From Monoculture to Multi-Benefit: Turning Cambodian Rice Fields into Multi-Benefit Ecosystems

Abstract

Rice is central to Cambodia’s food system and rural livelihoods, yet climate change and market volatility are increasingly undermining the sustainability of traditional rice monoculture. Evidence from Kampong Thom and Prey Veng under the CGIAR Multifunctional Landscapes program demonstrates that integrated rice-based systems offer a viable pathway toward more resilient and productive landscapes. By integrating rice, prawns, and vegetables within a single field, these systems transform conventional rice plots into multifunctional ecosystems that enhance farm income, nutrition, and ecological resilience. Through targeted field redesign, such as improved dikes, strategic canals, reduced chemical inputs, and careful environmental management, farmers can diversify production without compromising rice yields. Findings show that diversified rice systems outperform monoculture economically, nutritionally, and ecologically, proving that climate-smart innovations can deliver both technical feasibility and tangible livelihood benefits for Cambodian smallholders.