Officials from the water resource ministry inspect Stung Kreang water management in Prey Veng province on June 18. PREY VENG WATER RESOURCES DEPARTMENT
The collaborative effort of Cambodia’s Ministry of Water Resources and Meteorology, the Ministry of Economy and Finance and the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) is leading to a paradigm shift in the region’s irrigation systems.
A joint inspection was recently conducted at Stung Kreang Tonle Touch, the site earmarked for a transformative upgrade to its water management facilities.
At a June 18 site inspection, water resources ministry’s secretary of state Chan Sinath highlighted the mission’s aim. The shared vision is to enhance water management, control and efficient usage in the Lower Mekong Basin, with Stung Kreang Tonle Touch serving as a key node in this intricate network.
Sinath further detailed the inspection team, a diverse ensemble of local and regional officials from varied disciplines, encompassing water resources, agriculture, forestry and fisheries. The project’s beneficiaries are primarily from the Pea Reang, Sithor Kandal and Prey Veng towns in Prey Veng province, who are set to enjoy direct benefits from this large-scale irrigation upgrade.
“The planned engineering modernisation of the Stung Kreang irrigation system will benefit an expansive area of 35,000ha. Starting from Tonle Touch, the project will extend to areas including Phnov II, Chrey Khmum, Pea Reang, Mesor Prochan, Prey Srolit, Kanhcham, Roka, Po Rieng, Prey Konlong and will even reach the Chongporm Prek Tatam area, among other locations along National Road 8 of Kandal province,” he elaborated.
Water resources minister Lim Kean Hor has called for the diligent and active implementation of the programme, as part of the ministry’s ambitious commitment to enhance this sector. The ministry is also keen on strengthening ties with local and international development partners to further long-term investment plans in water resources management, meteorological expansion and control.
Furthermore, the engineering modernisation project of the Lower Mekong Basin at Stung Kreang plays a significant role in the ministry’s strategic blueprint, he said.
According to the Prey Veng Provincial Administration’s report, the province is currently home to 177 water irrigation systems, classified into four large-scale, 111 medium-scale and 62 small-scale systems. These systems cater to a total of 137,334ha of agricultural land. The upcoming upgrades promise a more efficient and sustainable future for the region’s farmers and overall ecological balance.
