Three Tonle Sap provinces including Battambang, Pursat and Kampong Chhnang were helped from the support of Japan International Cooperation Agency to help productivity and income improvement of the farmers. This support would be US$4.4 million.

“JICA-sponsored project will help the Cambodian government to reach his goal by increasing rice export to 1 million tons by 2015”, said by Yasujiro Suzuki, chief representative of JICA Cambodia. “This project will focus on agriculture production such as techniques, seed quality, and irrigation. We will target to 30 communes in Battambang province, four in Pursat and two in Kampong Chhnang”, stated by San Vanthy, undersecretary of state at the Ministry of Agriculture. “Agriculture productivity and farmer’s income will increase in the target areas in the future through our cooperation. This mission will begin in September and take four years and half to finish”, he added.

Meanwhile, Cheam Chan Sophorn who is the director of Battambang provincial agriculture department also showed his satisfaction in the project and expect there would be double or triple amount of the export rice to local and international market.

However, during to the complaint of farmers proved that this year is drought and water shortage. There aren’t enough irrigations and pump water into their rice fields. “I am worry about not having enough water for my rice seedling this year because there is drought, and irrigation system shortage”, said by Kuch Veng, a farmer at Krakor district in Pursat Province. “We hope our farmers will not have anymore troubles because this year the rain seems help to improve the farming situation”, said by director of the Pursat provincial agriculture department, Lay Pisity.

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