Cambodia: Northwest Irrigation Sector Project

Agriculture, natural resources and rural development - Agricultural policy, institutional and capacity development - Irrigation

The overall objective of the Project is to support government effort to reduce poverty in rural areas of northwest Cambodia through increased agricultural production, thereby reducing food insecurity and improving farming household incomes. The immediate objective is better use of water resources and promotion of irrigated agriculture through: (i) a comprehensive policy and strategic framework to be applied in developing water resources; (ii) a better understanding, knowledge and application of the integrated water resource management approach in a river basin context; (iii) improved water resource management through rehabilitated/upgraded small to medium-scale irrigation schemes and other water control infrastructure; (iv) a strengthened capacity of communities and institutions to plan, implement, manage, and maintain such infrastructure; and (v) improved agricultural support services to the beneficiary water users.

The Project will have three components: (i) Institutioinal strengthening, (ii) Irrigation infrastructure development and management, and (iii) Support to agrirrigated agriculture development.

The northwest region is one of the poorest and most isolated areas in Cambodia. Due to war and civil strife it has been left out of many development efforts during the past decades. Consequently, it suffers from inadequate investments in infrastructure, services, and institutional capacity building. Agriculture is the predominant economic activity and the major crop grown is rice , the staple food. Agricultural productivity is low and most rural areas in the northwest are exposed to food deficit (in some areas up to 6 months a year) even though Cambodia is, in average to good years, considered self-sufficient in rice. Lack of water control and management and low levels of agriculture technology constrain yields. Overall availability of water in northwest Cambodia is limited and resources need to be managed prudently. There is, however, a significant potential to raise agricultural production and rural incomes, and consequently reduce poverty in areas, where an enhanced supply of water is managed properly and where irrigated agriculture is protected from flooding. Scope exists in the project provinces to provide enhanced small to medium-scale irrigation schemes and other water control infrastructure, thus reducing risks of crop failure, and to encourage farmers to invest in higher levels of technology and adopt improved irrigated agriculture. Improved irrigation schemes will (i) reduce farmers' exposure to variability in crop yields and therefore to food insecurity, especially in the more remote, disadvantaged, and poorer areas; and (ii) raise agricultural production and rural incomes in more advantaged areas where food shortage is less of a problem and where crop diversification and commercially oriented agriculture can be promoted.

The project is linked to the Rectangular Strategy of the Government of Cambodia.

Twelve FWUCs were established and operational by project completion, and MOWRAM capacity to adopt IWRM was mainly delivered through Apex water committees. For the developing and managing irrigation infrastructure component, all planned river basin studies were completed, and 12 subprojects were rehabilitated by project completion although the gross command area of these was only 10,761 ha, compared to the original target of 16,000ha (plus recession areas of 19,000 ha). IMT agreements between the FWUCs and MOWRAM were in place by completion, and the FWUCs had prepared operational plans and budgets, although only one of them had successfully applied for the O&M subsidy from MOWRAM. Regarding the development of irrigated agriculture, provincial and district staff members had been trained in improved rice and livestock activities and over 10,000 farmers training days had been delivered. While there was evidence of significantly improved rice yields from the demonstration plots at completion, the FWUCs themselves were not institutionally established as vehicles for farmer lead extension by 2012, and the extent of diversification and intensified agricultural activities on farmers' plots was uncertain (and likely modest).

Draft PCR has been sent for the EA's review and comments.

Component 1: Water Sector Institutional Strengthening

Component 2: Irrigation Infrastructure Development and Management

Component 3: Support to Irrigated Agricultural Development

Most of these outputs were transferred to TWGAW and incorporated in Strategy for Agriculture and Water

Annual workplan has been developed.

FWUC subdecree has been awaiting the COM's adoption, 5 Apex committees formed, 12 FWUC formed and registered.

12 FWUC have been formed and trained

Distributed

Completed

Conducted

Completed

Completed

Completed.

Completed

Completed

Completed

Completed

About 68% of the planned irrigation areas have been achieved by the end of the project partly due to the sharp increase in cost of construction material and labour in 2008 and also to availability of suitable areas for development.

Completed

Completed

Completed

Completed

Completed

Completed

Completed

12 agreements have been signed.

Completed

Completed

Completed

Completed

Not yet allocated

Completed

Completed

Completed

Farmers living in the areas of two sub-projects have doubled their croppings.

About 16,881 ha.

Trainings to farmers including field demonstration have been completed.

Trainings to farmers including field demonstration have been completed.

Trainings to farmers including field demonstration have been completed.

Not done

No laboratories were established

Completed

Twelves FWUCs have been established and functioning, however, they need further help.

Completed

Completed

Completed

Completed

Twelve FWUCs need further training on credit intermediaries.

Twelve FWUCs have been established and started to function. FWUCs acting as marketing agents or input suppliers need further training.