KOICA and MOWRAM launch the official Inauguration Ceremony of Batheay Irrigation System

KOICA and MOWRAM launch the official Inauguration Ceremony of Batheay Irrigation System

KOICA News Release: translate from local newspaper

Kohsantepheap Daily Newspaper:

Year 44 Volume 7209, Thursday, March 10, 2011

(Photo) Minister LIM Keanhor and other officials participate with Korean side 

Kampong Cham: Korea International Cooperation Agency, known as KOICA and the Ministry of Water Resources and Meteorology of the Kingdom of Cambodia launched an official inauguration ceremony for the irrigation system of Batheay Flood Control Dam Phase II in Batheay District, Kampong Cham Province on Thursday morning, March 03, 2011 under the presidency of H.E. LIM Keanhor, Minister of the Ministry of Water Resources and Meteorology, H.E. Chang Ho-Jin, Ambassador of the Republic of Korea, with the participation of Dr. Shi Eui-Cheol, Representative of KOICA Cambodia Office, and other government officials of the Ministry of Water Resources and Meteorology and Kampong Cham governorate.

Batheay Flood Control Dam Project is located in two communes Sam Bo and Chea Lea, Batheay District, Kampong Cham Province. This project is divided into two phases. The First phase is the Batheay Flood Control Project started on 26 June 2007. It is the Korean grant aid with amount of USD 2,000,000.00 and contribution from Government of Cambodia for resettlement with amount of USD 661,414.94. The total amount is USD 2,661,414.94.

The Second Phase started on 02 April 2009. It is also the grant aid of the Republic of Korea with amount of USD 2,500,000.00 and contribution from Government of Cambodia for resettlement with amount of USD 383,740.84, the total amount of is USD 2,883,740.84. The total cost of both phases is USD 5,545,155.78; Korean grant aid is USD 4,500,000.00 and the contribution from Government of Cambodia for resettlement is USD 1,045,155.78.

Mr. LIM Keanhor, Minister of Water Resources and Meteorology said that the achievement of Irrigation System of Batheay Flood Control Dam was not only used for flood protection, but also used for multi-purpose such as irrigation system and rural road in transporting agrarian products, which is a part to alleviate poverty of local people in two communes, Batheay District, Kampong Cham. This achievement responds on time to government’s strategy to reduce effect by economic crisis in the past especially the strategy to export rice in the future.

In this ceremony, Mr. LIM Keanhor, Minister of MOWRAM awarded Medal Sahakmetrey, rank Thepdin to Dr. Shin Eui-Cheol, Representative of KOICA Cambodia Office, Medal Sahakmetrey, rank Sena to Mr. Son Sung-Il, First Deputy Representative of KOICA Cambodia Office, Two Medals Sahakmetrey, rank Ark-Sar-Rithi to Mr. Kim Kyu Tae, Vice President of Yooshin Engineering Cooperation, and Mr. Kim Jong Gab, Hydraulic Senior Engineer Representative of Yooshin Engineering Cooperation.

Mr. Chang Ho-Jin, Ambassador of the Republic of Korea said that the construction of irrigation system which was achieved today is a successful model of the rural development assistance. This area always has difficulties in cultivation because in raining season is inundated, and dry season is shortage of water every year. Since 2007, Korean government have constrcuted flood control dam with 13 km length, and now we have achieved successfully the construction of 18 km length of canal linked from dam to rice-field. Through this achievement, we expect that the agrarian land will increase tripple (1.800 hectares to 6.500 hectares) and agrarian productivities will increase 6 times (from 4.800 tons to 29.000 tons ).

Be noticed that, through these projects, 5.650 households (30.500 people) in 20 villages, two communes have got benefit from cultivation on their farmland. 2.220 hectares of raining season rice was protected from the flood and people can cultivate two times per year. Anyways, dry season rice around 3.500~8.000 hectares have enough water to irrigate. Moreover, the yield will be increased up to 3.5 ton/hectare.