Cambodia Holds Emergency Meeting to Address Drought Impact on Rice Cultivation

Cambodia is facing a severe drought that has impacted rice cultivation across eight provinces. In response, Deputy Prime Minister Kun Kim, First Vice Chairman of the National Committee for Disaster Management, chaired an emergency meeting on July 28, 2026, with relevant ministries to discuss measures to address the effects on affected farmers' rice crops. The meeting was attended by representatives from the Ministry of Economy and Finance, Ministry of Water Resources and Meteorology, Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, Ministry of Interior, Ministry of Rural Development, Ministry of Public Works and Transport, Ministry of Health, Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport, the Cambodian Food Reserve System Management Committee, and the General Command of the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces. Deputy Prime Minister Kun Kim highly praised the cooperation and efforts of the relevant ministries and institutions that have participated in and intervened to assist farmers affected by water shortages for their rice crops. He stated that specialized ministries have been employing all means to ensure water supply to crops, including diverting water through existing infrastructure and using water pumps. Furthermore, he mentioned that based on the high recommendations of Prime Minister Hun Manet, who also chairs the National Committee for Disaster Management, urgent interventions have been ordered for rice crops affected by water scarcity. Deputy Prime Minister Kun Kim urged the ministries and institutions to collaborate in assessing the actual impacts and damages to propose the provision of rice seeds to farmers whose crops have been completely destroyed, through the Cambodian Food Reserve System Management Committee. Deputy Prime Minister Kun Kim emphasized that water issues have been consistently considered a priority for the development of the agricultural sector, from the leadership of former Prime Minister Hun Sen to the current administration under Prime Minister Hun Manet. He added that the ministries and institutions serving as the secretariat of the National Committee for Disaster Management play a crucial role in implementing technical and action plans that respond to disasters within their respective sectors, aiming to reduce disaster risks to the maximum extent possible. The eight provinces affected by the drought include Banteay Meanchey, Battambang, Siem Reap, Kampong Thom, Kampong Cham, Pursat, Kampong Chhnang, and Pailin. Battambang and Pursat provinces have reportedly suffered the most severe impacts on their rice crops. Source: CPP Cambodia