Early this morning, Minister of Water Resources and Meteorology Thor Chetha led a delegation of Japanese senators straight to Kandal Stung district in Kandal province. They headed directly to the Kandal Stung-Bati irrigation sub-project—a massive undertaking with a total investment of $238 million—to inspect construction progress on the ground.
For the local farming community, this is a project people have been waiting a long time to see. Along the dusty roadsides, leaves are blackened by motorbike exhaust, and under the blazing sun, dust kicks up with every passing vehicle. Locals have long depended entirely on the weather to farm, making life tough. Everyone is hoping these canals and facilities will actually deliver, providing enough water during the dry season to keep their crops alive.
Local media reported that the field visit was part of routine bilateral coordination on agriculture and infrastructure. The Japanese visitors walked the dirt tracks under the beating sun, listening as officials explained the finer details of the project. The water resources ministry clearly places high value on the funding and the project, knowing it holds the key to whether vast areas of surrounding farmland can finally get reliable irrigation.
