Delayed monsoon causes more damage to rice crop in Cambodia

PHNOM PENH, Aug. 29 (Xinhua) -- Cambodia has continued suffering from drought and tens of thousands of hectares of rice seedlings in 14 out of 24 cities and provinces have been affected, according to a report released from the National Committee for Disaster Management on Wednesday.

As of Aug. 21, the drought has damaged 11,350 hectares of rice seedlings and affected other 139,530 hectares, said the report.

Rains always begin in May and lasts until October, but this year, delayed rains caused damage to rice seedlings.

The drought-hit cities and provinces are Phnom Penh, Kampong Speu, Takeo, Svay Rieng, Kandal, Prey Veng, Kampot, Battambang, Pursat, Banteay Meanchey, Uddar Meanchey, Siem Reap, Kampong Cham and Kampong Chhnang.

Nhim Vanda, the first vice president of the National Committee for Disaster Management, said in a meeting on Wednesday that the authorities have been actively pumping water to rescue affecting seedlings.

Cambodia is an agrarian country with more than 80 percent of the population being farmers. Last year, this Southeast Asian nation produced some 8.25 million tons of paddy rice on the areas of about 2.4 million hectares, according to a report of the Ministry of Agriculture. Enditem

Go to Forum >>0 Comment(s)