Overview

The Kingdom of Cambodia is located on the Indochinese peninsula in Southeast Asia. This region is where the Mekong River meets Tonle Sap, the largest lake in Southeast Asia. Agriculture plays a significant role in the country’s economy, providing employment and a livelihood for the majority of its rural population. Rice, particularly award-winning varieties such as Phka Rumduol and Malis Angkor, is a staple crop in Cambodia, supporting millions of farmers in rural areas.

Rice tightly ties IRRI with Cambodia’s history. At a time when the nation was faced with food shortages, several rice seeds and traditional varieties were lost. Through the support of the International Rice Genebank (IRG), which was able to conserve 766 Cambodian rice seeds from December 1972 to January 1973, the country was able to reinvigorate its rice seed supplies. This is a concrete impact of the conservation efforts of IRRI since the 1960s and its continued commitment to supporting each nation’s food and nutritional security.

According to USDA, Cambodia is among the top 10 largest rice producers in the world, with its production capabilities expanding fivefold compared to 1993. This can be attributed to the expansion of harvested land. However, Cambodia is up against other major rice producing countries, as there is a need to improve their climate resilience, soil and nutrient supplies, and agronomic practices. Furthermore, it has been recorded by the Ministry of Water Resources and Agrometeorology that only 24% of the agricultural areas are irrigated. Salinity is also increasing along coastal areas.

IRRI is working collaboratively with the with the Royal Government of Cambodia, the country’s Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries (MAFF) by providing capacity-building and increasing yields through the development of improved varieties and disseminating sustainable crop, nutrient, and pest management practices. IRRI is exploring the introduction of salinity-tolerant rice varieties as well as developing low-emission technology packages to help farmers become more climate resilient.