Heavy Rains Damage Thousands of Hectares of Crop Land in Cambodia
Farmers in Pailin Province try to salvage cassavas in a flooded field. Photo: Pailin Provincial Administration.
- Khorn Nary and Phoung Vantha
- October 15, 2020 10:58 AM
Farmers try to salvage whatever they can
PHNOM PENH—The National Committee for Disaster Management reported on Oct. 15 that more than 6,600 hectares of rice fields were damaged by the floods and 130,000 hectares are in danger of being flooded.
According to the committee, more than 55,000 hectares of other crops were flooded, and crops were completely destroyed in more than 6.3 thousand hectares in those fields.
In Pailin Province, some 3,400 hectares of agricultural crops were damaged. According to Im Sophoeun, deputy director of the Pailin Provincial Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, nearly 2,500 hectares of cassava were flooded. Some farmers were forced to harvest early to salvage as much of their crop as they could before they were further damaged, he said in a phone interview on Oct. 15.
In addition, more than 790 hectares of red corn, 76 hectares of rice and 54 hectares of mixed crops were flooded, Sophoeun said. He added that he has asked farmers to be careful with their livestock and to immediately contact professional officers and veterinarians if their animals are troubled or sick so they can intervene in a timely manner.
On Oct. 13, the Ministry of Water Resources and Meteorology announced that more heavy rain is expected to come across Cambodia on Oct. 16 to 20 due to the tropical storms Nangka and Saudel.
Rain this month has so far cost the lives of 13 people, displaced nearly 195,000 people and damaged roads in 19 provinces and Phnom Penh.
