Cambodia Guides Farmers on Irrigation Techniques to Combat Drought Amidst El Niño

In Kampong Speu province, western Cambodia, the provincial Department of Agriculture is intensifying irrigation technique guidance for rice farmers affected by drought, attributed to the El Niño phenomenon. Yum Non, Director of the provincial Department of Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries, led a team from specialized offices on August 1, 2026, to inspect the rice cultivation situation in the villages of Svay Chayp commune, Baseth district. According to Director Yum Non, the inspection aimed to: 1) directly observe the impact of El Niño on rice production in the area, and 2) assess the practical possibilities for rescuing rice crops affected by drought. The inspection revealed that interventions by the Kampong Speu Provincial Department of Water Resources and Meteorology had provided sufficient water. Farmers were able to pump water from secondary canals into their fields, timely rescuing early-season rice crops affected by the drought. Concurrently, Director Yum Non offered advice to farmers, emphasizing the priority of irrigating rice fields with crops in the later growth stages before those in the early vegetative phase. This approach is expected to ensure the growth, grain quality, and overall yield of the rice. This initiative is part of the response to the impacts of climate change, exacerbated by El Niño, on Cambodia's vital agricultural sector. Source: Koh Santepheap Khmer