Agro-ecological experiments

CCL is accompanying farmers willing to improve their farming systems in the framework of agroecology. However, farmers choices are led by different constraints, wills, and opportunities, including their specific soil-climate and socio-economic conditions. To adapt our support, as far as possible, to each situation and to helps farmers to identify relevant techniques and transition pathways adapted to their farming systems, in-situ agroecological experiments are set up with the farmers. Different kind of experiments have been tested so far, both on the hill slopes and the paddy fields:

• Mix-cropping systems for maize production: to reduce pesticide use and soil erosion due to maize production on the slopes. Experiments included maize mixed with galanga or red bean.
• Sustainable Rice System (SRS): aiming to improve rice yields in the paddies, reduce workload and seed consumption.
• Rice-Fish & Rice-Duck integrated systems: to increase the equivalent production of the plots, by growing both rice and fishes or ducks in the same plot and benefit from the synergies between the plant and the animals.
• Counter season rice: to increase rice production at family and village level, thanks to a production during the dry season.

See below a video explaining the techniques and the main lessons learnt from the Rice-Fish experiments in Oudomxay.