PHNOM PENH: Authorities are assessing the impact of water shortages on more than 18,000 hectares of rice fields in Battambang province, with all relevant ministries urging water conservation measures during the middle and latter stages of the rainy season to reduce the risk of future shortages.
Senior Minister Kun Kim, first vice-president of the National Committee for Disaster Management (NCDM), said he has instructed provincial leaders, department heads and relevant officials to closely monitor the situation, conduct detailed assessments and prepare measures to address water shortages affecting rice cultivation in the province.
The directive followed instructions from Prime Minister Hun Manet, who serves as NCDM president.
The prime minister’s instructions were based on reports showing that rice crops in Battambang are facing increasingly severe water shortages.
As of July 1, a total of 18,362 hectares of rice fields in Ek Phnom and Sangke districts had been affected, 7,769 in Ek Phnom and 10,593 in Sangke.
During a first-half 2026 review meeting held yesterday, July 2, by the Ministry of Water Resources and Meteorology, the Cambodia National Mekong Committee and the Tonle Sap Authority, water resources minister Thor Chetha instructed officials to remain vigilant.
He stressed the importance of conserving as much water as possible during the middle and end of the current rainy season in preparation for potential water shortages and higher temperatures during the upcoming dry season, which are expected to be influenced by the return of the El Niño climate pattern.
“Particular attention should be given to storing as much water as possible,” he said.
He called for close coordination with provincial and municipal administrations to monitor developments and keep the public informed about the impacts of climate change.
Chetha highlighted the ministry’s ongoing efforts to identify new water sources, construct reservoirs, modernise irrigation systems and upgrade Cambodia’s meteorological services.
These initiatives aim to ensure reliable water supplies for agricultural irrigation and other sectors while improving weather forecasting and providing timely public warnings about natural disasters, including floods and droughts. - The Phnom Penh Post/ANN
