Cambodia Boosts Agricultural Irrigation Capacity by Nearly 2 Million Hectares by 2024

• Sommana Yan
• 24 January 2025
• Local News
• 2339 Views

In a significant advancement for its agricultural sector, Cambodia has successfully increased the irrigation capacity of its agricultural land by approximately 1,969,843 hectares as of 2024. This achievement is part of the Cambodian government’s ongoing efforts to enhance irrigation systems nationwide, ensuring access to vital resources for its citizens.

During a meeting of Senate Committee 3 held on 21 January 2025, HE Minister Tho Jetha, Minister of Water Resources and Meteorology, shared details about this impressive progress. He highlighted that the increased irrigation capacity includes 1,387,051 hectares designated for wet-season rice cultivation and 582,792 hectares for dry-season rice.

In addition to expanding irrigation, the Ministry of Water Resources is actively engaged in repairing, rehabilitating, and constructing new irrigation systems of all sizes, along with flood protection systems and saltwater protection dams. These initiatives aim to mitigate the impact of natural disasters while ensuring water security for agricultural and daily living needs.

Cambodia has two capital cities and provinces—Phnom Penh and Pailin—that lack irrigation reservoirs and ponds. However, across the remaining 23 provinces, there are a total of 1,562 irrigation reservoirs and ponds. Of these, 197 reservoirs and ponds are officially registered, accounting for 13% of the total, while 273 are in the registration process (17%), and a substantial 1,092 remain unregistered, making up 70%. (Read more)

These efforts reflect Cambodia’s commitment to enhancing agricultural productivity and resilience against environmental challenges, ultimately supporting the livelihoods of its farmers and rural communities.

• Policy and Strategy
• Agriculture and Aquaculture Project