Crop Diversification in the Asia-Pacific region - United Nations in ...

In any case, a decision about the size of the pond should be made based on the localgeographical and environmental conditions as follows:- If the implementation plot is located in an area which depends on rainfall, then thepond should be dug quite deep in order to prevent evaporation, thus allowing all yearround water supply.- If the implementation plot is located in an area which depends on an irrigationsystem, then features of the pond can be flexible, in terms of the depth, or width.Only the local suitability needs to be considered because with an irrigation system, awater replenishment source is secured.The purpose of having a pond is simply to allow farmers an all year round watersupply for their occupation and consumption usage. His Majesty referred to it as a‘regulator’, implying that a well-defined water replenishing cycle system has beenestablished to support farming all year round, particularly during the drought and dry spellperiods. However, this does not mean that farmers can cultivate Na Prang rice (off-seasonrice farming). If the water in the pond is insufficient, it is then necessary to pump water froman existing nearby dam, thus depleting the amount of water that has been stored in the dam.It is recommended for farmers to cultivate rice during its regular season, which is in the rainyperiod. Meanwhile, during the dry season, farmers must consider other suitable types ofcrops to cultivate in order to use the stored water both efficiently and optimally.- In the rainy season, water will be plentiful for rice and cultivation of other crops.- During drought or dry spell periods, it is most suitable to cultivate crops that do notrequire large amounts of water, such as beans.d. For this scheme to divide the land in order to produce optimum benefits, HisMajesty based his calculations on the fact that each farmer owns an average land area of 2.4hectares. However, the following plan is not a fixed formula but simply a guideline in whichfarmers who own more or less of this amount of land can adjust the 30 : 30 : 30 : 10 ratio.In any case, the described ratio only serves as a recommended formula or as aguideline. Adjustments of the ratio can and should be made to suit each area’s locationcharacteristics such as the soil type, the amount of rainfall, and the environment. Forinstance, in the southern region where rainfall is more plentiful or in areas where sources ofwater are available to continuously replenish the pond, it will be possible to reduce the sizeof the pond and allocate the surplus land.Recommended Types of Crops and Animals for FarmingCropsFruit trees and Other Perennial Plants: mango, coconut, tamarind, jackfruit,sapodilla, orange, banana, custard apple, papaya, santol, sesbania, horseradish, neem tree,cassod tree, lead tree, etc.Short-lived Vegetables and Flowers: sweet potato, taro, yard long bean, eggplant,jasmine, aztec, globe amaranth, rose, Calotropis, tuberose, etc.138