As Cambodia continues to face the impacts of the El Niño climate phenomenon, Minister of Water Resources and Meteorology Thor Chetha has instructed officials to work with relevant government institutions to develop dry-season rice cultivation plans, with particular attention to be paid to the risks associated with planting second or third dry-season rice crops.
The directive was issued during a July 23 ministry, held to prepare practical responses to the drought risks caused by El Niño, according to a water resources ministry statement.
The minister instructed the officials responsible for coordinating water resources and meteorological management in target provinces to maintain close field monitoring while preparing emergency response teams and mobile water pumps to assist farmers whose rice fields face water shortages.
He also called for teams to identify water supply operators at risk of shortages, and map areas vulnerable to water scarcity.
At the same time, the ministry will continue public awareness campaigns highlighting the risks of cultivating dry-season rice far from reliable water sources. Authorities are discouraging farmers from planting second or third dry-season rice crops in order to conserve water for domestic consumption.
Chetha also urged officials to improve meteorological and hydrological forecasting services, as well as the country’s Early Warning System, to ensure timely dissemination of information to the public and relevant institutions.
He emphasised the importance of maintaining regular cooperation with the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) to receive the latest climate information and technical assistance.
El Niño is a global climate phenomenon that affects many countries, including Cambodia. It typically brings higher temperatures, prolonged dry conditions, reduced rainfall and increased risks of drought and forest fires.
According to the ministry, the current El Niño event has already affected more than 180,000 hectares of wet-season rice across Cambodia, with Battambang province the hardest hit, accounting for more than 100,000 hectares of damaged farmland.
To mitigate the impacts, the ministry has installed mobile water pumps, scheduled maintenance and repairs of irrigation canal systems, and continued weather forecasting and public information campaigns, which it described as part of its daily operations.
Farmers in Sangke district, Battambang province, are facing the impact of drought caused by the El Niño phenomenon. Battambang agriculture department
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