UNDP Cambodia and DanChurchAid extend drought preparedness efforts to Kampong Chhnang, Pursat and Battambang

Phnom Penh, 14 August 2019 – Having successfully set up drought info hubs in Kampot and Takeo earlier this year, UNDP Cambodia has expanded a partnership with DanChurchAid to set up drought info hubs, roll out training and install rain gauges and soil moisture sensors in Kampong Chhnang, Pursat and Battambang provinces. In addition to establishing the hubs, some officials and communites will take part in drought-resistant agricultural techniques and an exchange visit with existing farmers from Kampong Speu or Kampot province. 

Last year, drought struck Cambodia, Laos, Thailand and Vietnam. Kampong Cham and Battambang were among Cambodia worst drought-affected provinces.

Between 2015 and 2016, El Nino brought severe and long-lasting drought throughout Southeast Asia, with Cambodia being particularly hard-hit. Streams, ponds and shallow wells throughout the country dried up, leading to water shortages for agriculture and human consumption. The drought underlined the need for better monitoring of Cambodia’s weather, particularly for forecasting and analysis for early warning systems.

Approximately 4,500 farmers and 60 provincial officials are expected to directly benefit from the extended partnership agreement.

For more information, please contact UNDP Early Warning Systems Project Manager, Muhibuddin Usamah at muhibuddin.usamah@undp.org Tw: @muhiusamah

Related articles

‘Cambodia, looking to the horizon, prepares for drought’, January 2019

‘Reducing risk, reaping resilience: Furnishing Cambodia’s farmers with the knowledge to adapt to climate change’, June 2019

‘Preparing for the future. In pictures: Cambodia installs hydro stations across the country for improved disaster early warning’, July 2019

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About the ‘Strengthening Climate Information and Early Warning Systems in Cambodia’ project

With financing from the GEF-Least Developed Countries Fund, the UNDP-supported project ‘Strengthening Climate Information and Early Warning Systems in Cambodia’ aims to increase Cambodia’s institutional capacity to assimilate and forecast weather, hydrological, and climate information for adaptation, disaster preparedness, and early warning. The project has recently completed the installation of 24 automatic weather stations and 24 automatic hydrological stations nation-wide.

About DanChurchAid

DanChurchAid is an independent Danish non-governmental charitable organisation providing emergency relief in disaster-stricken areas, and long-term development assistance in resource-constrained regions to create a more equitable and sustainable world.

The organisation has extensive experience delivering drought management training at the national, sub-national and local levels in Cambodia, including equipping smallholder farmers and agricultural co-operatives with knowledge of drought-resistant agricultural techniques and access to a forecast-based crop advisory system to help them better adapt to changing weather conditions.