Social and ecological constraints affecting insect pest management in Cambodian rice farming systems

Rice (Oryza sativa L.) is the most economically important crop in Cambodia providing smallholder farmers with food and income. Despite rice cultivation being widespread, rice yields in Cambodia are among the lowest in Southeast Asia. Cambodian farmers reported insect pests to be the leading cause of yield loss. To control pests, farmers are dependent on pesticides without any integrated pest management (IPM) options employed. My research aimed to establish ecological and social entry points for successful IPM adoption using a farmer-focused approach. The overarching research question was what are the main social and ecological constraints of rice pest management in NW Cambodia, and how are these constraints hindering IPM adoption. To do this, I undertook an interdisciplinary mixed method approach. Firstly, I examined how spatial position within a rice field and field characteristics (vegetation cover and presence of water) affected pest and natural enemy abundance, richness, and diversity. I then undertook a survey with smallholder rice farmers on their knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAPs) regarding insect pests, insecticide use, and farm management information. In addition, I explored the different kinds of information sources farmers use and trust the most for reliable pest management advice. By taking a holistic approach to understanding the rice agroecosystem, my thesis identified several points of intervention to improve ecologically and sociologically sustainable pest management for smallholder rice farmers in Northwest Cambodia.