Chi Lymeng / Khmer Times

Synopsis: Governor Lou directs provincial authorities to ensure water is distributed to all affected farmers equitably and transparently.

Even as drought has severely hit approximately 110,000 hectares of rice crops across Battambang province, emergency mitigation efforts have successfully salvaged nearly 70,000 hectares of the affected farmlands, according to a report of the Battambang Provincial Administration.

Provincial Governor Sok Lou led a delegation on Monday to assess the agricultural crisis firsthand in Banan district. The team, composed of provincial hall delegates, technical officials, and experts from the departments of agriculture and water management, conducted field inspections of key water irrigation systems, reservoirs, dams, and the current condition of the affected rice crops.

Governor Lou said that while drought has impacted approximately 110,000 hectares of rice crops province-wide, local teams have already successfully rescued nearly 70,000 hectares, with ongoing emergency operations working to salvage the remaining fields.

To ensure fair relief, he asked the Provincial Department of Water Resources and Meteorology to maintain strict oversight and distribute water to all affected farmers in an equitable and transparent manner.

He also asked the farmers in the upper reaches who have received water to stop pumping, so that it can be sent to those in the lower reaches.

Local farmers whose fields were severely impacted expressed their gratitude to the provincial administration and relevant departments for their direct, rapid intervention in deploying emergency water to save their rice crops.

This timely intervention was made as per the recommendations of Prime Minister Hun Manet, Senior Minister and First Vice Chairman of the National Disaster Management Committee Kun Kim, as well as leaders of the Ministry of Water Resources and Meteorology, the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries.

The situation in Battambang province is not much different from other provinces that are producing agricultural products, particularly rice, including Banteay Meanchey, Pursat, Kampong Cham, Kampong Thom, Siem Reap and Ratanakiri provinces, where the local provincial administrations are deploying intervention measures.

It may be recalled that during a cabinet meeting on July 24, the government outlined preparedness measures to respond to potential impacts of El Niño, the global phenomenon which is bringing hot temperatures, prolonged drought, reduced rainfall and increased risk of forest fires, while expanding the water resources sector to ensure water security.

Published Date: July 29, 2026