Stung Sreng Irrigation System Phase 1 in Chongkal district, Oddar Meanchey province. Supplied
Despite Cambodia’s seemingly bountiful water resources, including the Tonle Sap Lake and major river systems, agricultural crops continue to face significant shortages due to inadequate irrigation infrastructure and rising demand.
Minister of Water Resources and Meteorology Thor Chetha highlighted a troubling gap: the Kingdom’s irrigation systems can only cover half of its agricultural land.
“Of the approximately 4 million hectares of agricultural land, our irrigation system can only serve about 2 million hectares,” Chetha said, as he addressed a March 1 press conference on “Water Resources Management and the Status of Cambodia's Irrigation System” at the ministry headquarters.
The ministry is working to expand the irrigated area by roughly 30,000 hectares each year, with plans to ramp up capacity even further by 2027 to meet the growing demand.
The Dang Kasit Reservoir Development Project in Kampong Thom province. Supplied
While the rainy season provides ample water, the dry season poses a challenge, especially with an increase in water consumption across industries.
Major industrial sites like factories are significant water consumers. One factory alone can require up to 10,000 cubic metres per annum.
With over a thousand factories operating in the country, the strain on water resources is becoming increasingly apparent.
Cambodia has built an extensive network of irrigation systems. As of now, there are 2,352 irrigation systems in operation, including large, medium, and small-scale systems, alongside 8 large reservoirs, each holding between 25 million and 300 million cubic metres.
Despite this, the systems are still struggling to meet the needs of farmers, particularly during the dry season.
Water resources minister Thor Chetha and Puy Kea, president of the Club of Cambodian Journalists (CCJ) during a press conference on water resources management and irrigation. Hong Raksmey
“For 2025, the government estimates that farmers will cultivate over 900,000 hectares of rice, far surpassing the current water supply capacity of nearly 600,000 hectares,” said Chetha.
In response, the ministry has ramped up efforts by adding new reservoirs, including three in Mondulkiri province, and constructing over 260 kilometres of canals to divert water from Phnom Penh to various regions.
The aim is to store an additional 1.5 to 2 billion cubic meters of water over the next 5 to 10 years to support both agriculture and household needs.
“Cambodia’s reliance on rice exports exacerbates the situation. As a major rice-exporting country, the demand for water continues to rise, putting pressure on the already strained resources,” said Chetha.
