Water Ministry Warns of Drought Risks for Dry-Season Rice Amid El Niño

The Ministry of Water Resources and Meteorology has instructed officials to strengthen dry-season rice cultivation planning due to escalating drought risks attributed to the El Niño phenomenon. The ministry is adopting a policy to curb multiple dry-season rice cropping cycles to conserve water resources. During a ministry meeting on July 23, Minister Thor Chetha directed relevant authorities to prepare practical responses to drought risks caused by El Niño. Officials were tasked with closely coordinating water resource and meteorological management in affected provinces, while also preparing emergency response teams and mobile water pumps to aid farmers facing water shortages. The directive also called for the identification of water supply operators at risk and mapping of areas vulnerable to scarcity. Furthermore, the ministry will continue public awareness campaigns highlighting the risks of cultivating dry-season rice far from reliable water sources. Farmers are being encouraged to refrain from planting second or third dry-season rice crops to ensure water availability for domestic consumption. Minister Chetha also urged improvements in meteorological and hydrological forecasting services and the Early Warning System to guarantee timely information dissemination to the public and relevant institutions. He emphasized the importance of maintaining regular cooperation with the World Meteorological Organization (WMO). El Niño is a global climate phenomenon affecting many countries, typically causing higher temperatures, prolonged dry spells, reduced rainfall, and increased risks of drought and forest fires. According to the ministry, the current El Niño has already impacted over 180,000 hectares of wet-season rice nationwide, with Battambang province being the hardest hit, accounting for more than 100,000 hectares of damaged farmland. To mitigate these impacts, the ministry has installed mobile water pumps, scheduled maintenance and repairs of irrigation canal systems, and continued weather forecasting and public information campaigns.