Cambodia's Southwest Irrigation and Drainage System Rehabilitation Nears Completion with 99% Progress

The rehabilitation and improvement project for the irrigation and drainage system in southwestern Phnom Penh, Cambodia, has reached 99% completion, entering its final stages. On August 4, 2026, Minister of Water Resources and Meteorology, Thor Chetha, inspected the progress of this crucial infrastructure project, which covers areas across Kampong Speu, Kandal, and Takeo provinces. Funded by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), the project commenced construction on June 13, 2023. Upon completion, it is expected to supply irrigation water to over 20,000 hectares of farmland, benefiting 7,925 farming households. This is projected to increase rice yields from 2.2 tons to 3.8 tons per hectare. Minister Thor Chetha urged the construction companies to prioritize quality in accordance with technical standards, ensure workplace safety, and complete the work as planned. He called for continued cooperation from all stakeholders to ensure the project's successful and highly efficient execution. Key construction activities include the repair of the Rolous Chrey intake structure, two water diversion structures, and the northern (11.7 km) and southern (12.6 km) main canals of the Rolous Chrey system, along with 49 secondary and tertiary canals totaling 26.7 km, and 207 related structures in Chbar Mon city and Samrong Tong district, Kampong Speu province. In Kandal Stung district, Kandal province, and Bati district, Takeo province, the project involved constructing a small weir (9.4 km), a 4 km concrete main canal, two water diversion structures, five bridges, eleven drainage structures, three water intake structures, and one embankment at Kampong Doung, along with 33 related structures. This project is anticipated to significantly contribute to improving agricultural productivity and living standards in rural areas of Cambodia. Amid deepening relations with China, continued infrastructure support from Japan remains a vital component of Cambodia's economic development.