ADB-Supported Irrigation Project Boosts Rice Yields Threefold, Enhancing Lives of 160,000 Resident

Nearly 160,000 residents in Prek Por commune, located in Kampong Cham province’s Srei Santhor district, have experienced a remarkable transformation in their livelihoods, thanks to the Prek Por Pumping Station.

Funded by the Asian Development Bank (ADB), the station has revolutionized irrigation, allowing farmers to triple their annual rice production and significantly enhance agricultural yields in the region.

Chan Sinath, Secretary of State at the Ministry of Water Resources and Meteorology, explained that the station was developed after extensive studies in collaboration with ADB experts and other partners. Sinath emphasized the project's importance as a joint effort between ADB, Cambodia’s water and finance ministries, and other development stakeholders.

During a field visit on December 11, ADB Country Director Jyotsana Varma commended the project's achievements. Sinath highlighted that the irrigation system now benefits approximately 159,000 residents.

“Previously, water shortages during the dry season limited cultivation to just 200–300 hectares annually, often leading to disputes. With this system, 8,000 hectares can now be irrigated, supporting multiple harvests each year. It also ensures a clean water supply through its mixed-use facilities,” he said.

The system’s seven engines, currently operating at partial capacity, enable farmers to grow rice three times a year, achieving yields of up to five tonnes per hectare.

Local farmer Em Srey Channa shared how the project has changed her life:

“We used to rely on rainfall and could only harvest once a year. Now, we cultivate three times annually. Transporting rice is also much easier. Our yields have increased from three tonnes per hectare to over five. Farming is now nearly 100 per cent efficient,” she explained.

Costing $30 million, the Prek Por Pumping Station is part of the $119.16 million ADB-funded Improving Agricultural Irrigation Project (IAIP). Spanning four provinces—Kampong Cham, Battambang, Kampong Thom, and Takeo—the project aims to irrigate 43,500 hectares of farmland by 2025, directly benefiting nearly 290,000 people, half of whom are women. It seeks to modernize agriculture, enhance resilience to climate change, and reduce rural poverty, contributing to Cambodia’s economic growth.