“When the climate changes, the farmers will at least have some food to eat if they have agroforests,” says Mr Kim Soben, from the Royal University of Agriculture in Phnom Penh, Cambodia.

Soben is among a group of farmers, researchers and government officials from Thailand, Laos and Cambodia who were interviewed for a new video by the World Agroforestry Centre.

The interviewees were asked 3 questions: what are the land-use issues in your area; how has climate change had an impact on your area; and is agroforestry a solution.

They discuss issues such as monocultures and cash crops that have damaged soils and led to food insecurity. Changes in climate are identified, such as more rainfall and longer droughts, which have reduced crop yields andcasued higher incidences of diseases

Among the benefits of agroforestry they list its ability to help farmers adapt to climate change, lower risks, improve biodiversity and decrease the use of fertilizers. Agroforestry is also seen as valuable in providing food and income for farmers.

The video is being screened as part of the Greater Mekong Sub-region Seminar on Climate Change and Sustainable Resources Management in Chiang Mai, Thailand from 3 to 4 December 2014. The Sub-region includes 6 countries with diverse landscapes and peoples and abundant natural resources. It is also one of the world’s fastest growing regions.

View the video: Greater Mekong Sub-region land-use challenges and agroforestry solutions