Cambodia: Takéo Province Faces Water Shortage, Intervention Underway for Rice Crops

In Cambodia's southern Takéo Province, emergency support operations are underway for the rainy season rice crops severely affected by water shortages. On August 8, 2026, Deputy Secretary of State Chong Sunheng, representing the Minister of Water Resources and Meteorology, Thao Chechetha, visited the site to assess the situation. The inspection took place in Chong Kuon village, Samroat district, where irrigation work using two mobile pumps was carried out to rescue farmers facing water scarcity. This assistance covers a total of 514 hectares of farmland and approximately 1,400 farming families across seven villages within Chong Kuon commune, including Ta Khoy, Trach, Trapaing Vihear, Chong Kuon, Thkov, Krang Long, and Ta Mao. In the morning of the same day, the Koop Trabek reservoir in Ou Saray village, Tram Kak district, was also inspected. This reservoir has a storage capacity of 5 million cubic meters, and as of early August 2026, approximately 60% of its capacity was filled. However, it appears insufficient to meet the full demand for agricultural lands. This series of support activities underscores the critical importance of a stable water supply for Cambodia's key agricultural sector, particularly rice cultivation. The government intends to continue efforts to ensure stable crop production through the ongoing development of irrigation infrastructure and enhanced water resource management. Source: CPP Cambodia