Cambodia: AFD Commits to Rehabilitate Irrigation Schemes Damaged by last year's Severe Floods

In October 2020, Cambodia experienced heavy rains due to several tropical storms, causing severe flooding in 19 provinces, resulting in 42 deaths and the evacuation of 14,300 households. Two provinces, Battambang and Banteay Meanchey, suffered particularly heavy losses: 26 people died and 85,000 ha (82% of the total cultivated area) of rice and other crops were destroyed. In addition to the difficulties already faced by households due to the Covid-19 pandemic crisis, these natural disasters had a strong impact on poverty levels in these two provinces.

The importance of rehabilitating the irrigation systems

€20 million will be added to the existing €66.5 million Water Resources Management and Agro-Ecological Transition Programme in Cambodia (WAT4CAM), co-financed by the European Union (€11.5 million grant). The additional funds will allow the Ministry of Water Resources and Meteorology (MoWRAM) to rehabilitate 17 irrigation systems located in Battambang and Banteay Meanchey, among those most affected by the October 2020 floods.

"We highly appreciate France's continued support to the water resources management sector in Cambodia,” said H.E. Chan Youttha, Secretary of State of MoWRAM. “Today's signature marks a new step, not only in the rehabilitation of flood-damaged irrigation infrastructure, but also in building the capacity of this infrastructure to better withstand future climate risks." 

AFD’s Director in Cambodia added: “In the midst of the crisis linked to the COVID-19 pandemic, the rehabilitation of these irrigation schemes represents a burden that the Cambodian government budget alone could not bear. This additional €20 million will enable the population of the two provinces to secure the next cropping seasons.”

Long-term support in the irrigation sector 

AFD has been supporting irrigation development in Cambodia for more than 25 years. The WAT4CAM program, co-financed with the European Union, has three objectives: increase irrigated areas, support the agroecological intensification of irrigated agriculture, but also to improve crop diversification.

In addition, a €300,000 grant agreement was signed between AFD and the Ministry of Economy and Finance to carry out the feasibility study for the new "Svay Chek River Restoration and Management" project in Banteay Meanchey province. This new €50 million project aims to develop sustainable solutions to the recurrent problem of flooding in this province, to ensure sustainable management of water resources for both agricultural and human consumption, and to revitalize agricultural development in this river basin.

The content of this publication falls under the sole responsibility of the AFD and does not necessarily reflect the opinions of the European Union.