Cambodia Faces Severe Water Shortage Due to El Niño, Urgent Measures for Rice Crop Rescue

In Kampong Speu province, Cambodia, approximately 60,000 hectares of rice cultivation are facing a severe water shortage due to prolonged drought exacerbated by the El Niño phenomenon. Governor Dr. Cham Chanthy Sophoan has strongly urged relevant departments to expedite emergency water supply and irrigation efforts to rescue the affected farmlands. During his inspection of the affected crops on September 2, 2026, Governor Cham Chanthy Sophoan stated that while some rice plants are in a critical condition, recovery is possible if water intervention is timely. Recent days have seen moderate to heavy rainfall, which has provided irrigation to some paddy fields and extended the period of drought resistance. He further indicated that if water supply reaches the affected areas or rainfall continues in the next 10 days, farmers can expect to salvage at least 70% of the impacted harvest. For the three districts lacking water sources, local authorities have been instructed to identify sources and collaborate with the Ministry of Water Resources and Meteorology to pump water from the Krang Pouy River to irrigate paddy fields in neighboring affected districts. Mr. Yim Non, Director of the Department of Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries of Kampong Speu province, reported that the second phase of the minor dry season and the El Niño phenomenon have impacted rice crops in 8 districts and municipalities, totaling 59,962 hectares. Among these, Baset district (4,506 hectares), Kong Pisei district (7,394 hectares), and Samrong Tong district (24,115 hectares) have seen near-total rescue. For Thpong district (4,421 hectares), 2,195 hectares have been rescued; for Oudong Meanchey municipality (5,249 hectares), 1,714 hectares; and for Samaki Mean Chey district (9,128 hectares), 1,140 hectares have been rescued. It is noted that the target for the 2026 wet season rice cultivation was 120,527 hectares, with 127,587 hectares planted or transplanted by the end of August, exceeding the plan by 105.86%. This represents an increase of 8,228 hectares compared to the same period in 2025. Source: AKP Khmer