ADB Greenlights $173 Million for Cambodian Water Management Initiatives
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Phnom Penh, Dec 3 (NationPress) The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has sanctioned two significant projects amounting to $173 million in loans and grants designed to boost climate-resilient water management in Cambodia, as reported in a press release on Tuesday.
The first initiative is an $88 million Integrated Water Resources Management Project focused on river basins located in Battambang and Pursat provinces within the Tonle Sap basin, according to Xinhua news agency.
The second initiative involves $85 million in additional funding for the ongoing Irrigated Agriculture Improvement Project, aimed at assisting the Ministry of Water Resources and Meteorology in improving water delivery efficiency and enhancing climate resilience across four irrigation systems in Battambang, Kampong Cham, Kampong Thom, and Takeo provinces.
"ADB is dedicated to aiding Cambodia in fortifying its resilience against climate-related challenges and ensuring sustainable water management. These two initiatives will modernize essential irrigation and flood management systems in areas that are facing significant drought and flood hazards, while also investing in safeguarding both communities and ecosystems," stated ADB Country Director for Cambodia, Jyotsana Varma.
"These initiatives will equip farmers with climate-smart irrigation techniques to secure their livelihoods, boost food production, and enhance food security," she further noted.
Agriculture and water resources have been identified as the sectors that are most susceptible to the adverse effects of climate change, as mentioned in the press release.
Regular flooding during the rainy season impacts 4 million people, accounting for nearly one-fourth of the population, with annual losses estimated at $250 million, which represents over 1 percent of the nation's gross domestic product.
