Climate change poses a significant threat to the agricultural sector, especially in tropical regions where agriculture is a vital source of livelihood. In Southeast Asia (SEA), climate change is already significantly impacting agricultural production, and the need for sustainable food production systems has become a top priority for researchers, policymakers, and farmers. The effects of climate change on agriculture are complex and multifaceted, making it difficult to predict the exact impact on crop yields. As a result, there is a growing need for tools and methods to evaluate the potential effects of climate change on agricultural production. One such tool is the Decision Support System for Agrotechnology Transfer (DSSAT), a crop modelling system that enables researchers to simulate different crop management scenarios and evaluate the environmental risks associated with these scenarios. The DSSAT crop modelling system has been widely used to study the potential impacts of climate change on crop yields in various regions of the world. The system allows researchers to evaluate the impact of different environmental factors, such as temperature and rainfall, on crop growth and yield. Using this system, researchers can identify potential management strategies to help farmers adapt to changing climatic conditions and maximize sustainable agricultural production. However, to effectively evaluate these impacts, researchers must have the necessary skills and tools to generate new agricultural information that can improve farming practices and guide farmers in mitigating climate risks.
This project’s primary objective is to equip researchers from Southeast Asian countries, including Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, and Vietnam, with skills in using DSSAT cropping system models. To achieve this goal, we conducted a one-week hands-on practical exercise training workshop in Can Tho, Vietnam, in March 2019, Chiang Mai, Thailand, in August 2019, and Bangkok, Thailand, in 2023. The participants, numbering sixty-two, were chosen based on their specialization in crop and soil science and their involvement in crop production or agro-ecosystems-related research, teaching, planning, extension, and outreach, and they were gender-balanced. The significant outcomes of this project, participants learned crop simulation modelling techniques and case study examples that can be utilized to tackle real-world challenges, such as enhancing agricultural practices and providing practical guidance to farmers. The training offers an assessment of integrated assessments, validates farm production inputs, and simulates productivity using crop models. The training workshops served as a platform for future collaboration and knowledge-sharing among SEA participants, including National Agricultural Research Systems (NARS), young researchers, academicians, policymakers, and international organizations. The project also fostered interactions between local agricultural communities and scientists, allowing for exchanging scientific knowledge related to new farm management practices. Ultimately, our project was fulfilled to contribute to developing sustainable and profitable agricultural production systems in Southeast Asian countries.