De-mined Land in Cambodia Transformed for Agricultural Development, Boosting Food Security and Poverty Reduction

Land cleared of mines in Cambodia is being transformed into agricultural development sites, contributing to food security, community economic development, and poverty reduction. On July 28, 2026, the Mine Authority and the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on cooperation to promote and develop the agricultural sector on land cleared of mines. Dr. Ly Thuch, First Vice President of the Mine Authority, stated that de-mined land not only eliminates dangers but also contributes to strengthening food security, developing community economies, and reducing poverty by transforming it into productive land. This is a practical implementation of the government's vision to translate peace into tangible benefits for the people, such as safe land, employment, food security, and improved livelihoods. The MoU connects mine action with the agricultural sector to convert land previously threatened by mines and explosive remnants of war into safe areas for cultivation, harvesting, and income generation. The Mine Authority is responsible for clearing the land to ensure safety, while the Ministry of Agriculture will provide technical expertise, inputs, and market support to transform these areas into sustainable production sources. Currently, over two-thirds of the de-mined land is being used for cultivation. The true success of mine action lies in transforming these safe lands into farms, fishponds, and sources of livelihood for the people, thereby strengthening food security, developing community economies, and reducing poverty in line with the government's "Pentagonal Strategy." Dr. Ly Thuch expressed profound gratitude to donor countries, development partners, mine action operators, philanthropists, and all relevant parties for their support of humanitarian mine action in Cambodia, which has led to continuous achievements. He appealed for continued strengthened cooperation to jointly transform minefields into farms, and fear into yields and prosperity for the Cambodian people.