Background
Irrigation infrastructure determines how water is allocated during Cambodia’s dry-season and wet-season rice cycles, especially in lowland provinces where farming depends on timely pumping, canal delivery, and flood-control structures. Irrigation infrastructure in Cambodia supports agricultural production by moving water from rivers, reservoirs, canals, and pumping stations to cultivated land. Flood-protection and irrigation systems also reduce the risk that excess water or water shortages will disrupt planting schedules.
The Ministry of Water Resources and Meteorology is the central ministry responsible for water resources management, meteorology, and public irrigation coordination in Cambodia. Provincial water resources departments implement field monitoring, farmer guidance, and emergency water-response preparation under ministry direction. In rice-producing provinces such as Prey Veng, water-status inspections connect national irrigation management with local planting plans.
Key Developments
On 4 May 2026, H.E. Ton Vanthara, Secretary of State at the Ministry of Water Resources and Meteorology and head of the Prey Veng water resources and meteorology coordination team, inspected water conditions and irrigation works in Prey Veng province. The visit was conducted on behalf of H.E. Tho Chetha, Minister of Water Resources and Meteorology.
The inspection focused on the Kampong Trabaek flood-protection and irrigation system. MOWRAM stated that the delegation directly reviewed pumping stations No. 1 and No. 3, which support irrigation for agricultural land in Ba Phnom district, Preah Sdach district, and Kampong Trabaek district.
Institutional Role
During the field visit, the Secretary of State instructed the Prey Veng Provincial Department of Water Resources and Meteorology to continue disseminating information and advising farmers to cultivate according to the established production plan. The ministry linked this guidance to the need to avoid crop losses or water shortages during the transition into early wet-season rice production.
The instruction emphasized administrative coordination and operational readiness. The provincial department was told to prepare for timely intervention if water shortages occur during early wet-season rice cultivation.
Operational Implications
MOWRAM reported that, as of early May 2026, dry-season rice cultivation in the area had reached approximately 77.63 percent of the 2026 plan. The reported cultivated area was 116,439 hectares out of a total planned area of 150,000 hectares.
The ministry also stated that farmers were preparing land for the next wet-season rice crop. For Prey Veng’s agricultural production system, the operating condition of pumping stations and irrigation structures affects whether farmers can begin planting according to seasonal water availability.
