Seasonal water shortages, irrigation challenges and recurring floods and droughts have emerged as major concerns across 12 river basins surrounding Cambodia’s Tonle Sap Lake, prompting calls for improved water infrastructure and stronger resource management.
The concerns were raised during four consultation workshops organised by the Ministry of Water Resources and Meteorology (MOWRAM), with support from the Asian Development Bank (ADB), in Kampong Thom, Siem Reap, Battambang and Pursat provinces from October 28 to November 4.
Nearly 500 participants, including national and provincial officials, river basin management committees, farmer water user communities, civil society organisations and technical experts, attended the workshops to review initial water resource assessments and identify development priorities.
The consultations form part of the Cambodia Resilient River Basin Masterplan (CRRBM) Phase 1, a one-year initiative running from June 2026 to June 2027.
Led by MOWRAM with ADB support, the project aims to develop long-term river basin management and investment plans that address future water demands and climate risks.
Participants highlighted difficulties in irrigation water distribution and the impacts of floods and droughts on agriculture and livelihoods.
They proposed improving reservoirs and irrigation canals, strengthening infrastructure maintenance and restoring forests and river ecosystems.
They also reviewed initial technical assessments, identified information gaps and contributed to preliminary visions and objectives for their respective river basins.
Secretary of State at MOWRAM Dr An Pich Hatda said the consultations would provide a foundation for future water management and investment decisions.
“Managing water resources requires us to consider the needs of each river basin as a whole. The information and priorities shared during these workshops will help us develop practical plans that reflect local conditions and guide future investments to where they are most needed,” he said.
ADB Country Director for Cambodia Yasmin Siddiqi said the initiative would support better-informed planning and investment to strengthen the country’s resilience.
“Reliable water resources are essential for Cambodia’s communities and economic development, especially for agriculture, energy, industrialisation and liveable cities,” she said.
She added that combining technical analysis with local knowledge would help identify investment priorities, address future water needs and protect lives and livelihoods.
CRRBM Team Leader Simon Tilleard said feedback from the workshops would help refine the initial assessments and identify potential solutions before further consultations.
“The workshops helped us check our initial assessments against local experience, particularly on seasonal water shortages, irrigation systems and future water needs,” he said.
The proposed interventions remain preliminary and will undergo further technical assessments and consultations before investment priorities are determined.
Four additional workshops are tentatively scheduled for February 2027 to examine potential investment and management options, with consultations on the draft and final river basin master plans expected in mid-2027.
The plans are intended to help MOWRAM and relevant institutions coordinate water management, identify investment priorities and strengthen planning capacity across Cambodia’s river basins.
