Cambodia

Preventing the opposition from meaningfully participating in this election has once again ensured the landslide victory for the ruling Cambodian People's Party (CPP).

Rice cultivation in the Mekong Region is often afflicted with pests and diseases leading to yield losses and livelihood impacts. This piece by Sourkea explores the impact of rice root-knot nematode (tiny, worm-like creatures found in the soil) which poses a significant threat to rice production in Cambodia.

The Lower Sesan II dam in Cambodia's Stung Treng province has resulted in inundation of seasonal wetlands, relocation and the fragmentation of local communities. Previously self-sufficient communities are struggling as they become low-income wage labor in distant cities but face mounting debts, economic insecurity, homesickness, and mental stress. Community leaders are striving to invest in education for local youth to gain a better future.

Cambodia’s Indigenous Land Titling (ICLT) is a government-led program to protect indigenous communities’ land and livelihoods. However, its internal contradictions result in the fragmentation of indigenous land management practices.

Microfinance credits are a highly competitive business in Cambodia, expanding their operations among ethnic communities, including the indigenous Brao villages in Ratanakiri province in the northeast region. But ethnic people are now getting heavily indebted and losing their livelihood resources, accelerating land loss and dividing the community.

Cambodia’s laws for preserving indigenous land were enacted over 20 years ago but are increasingly difficult to navigate and achieve official legal recognition for its indigenous peoples. But the more time passes, the more the land has become encroached upon, and the effects of this loss will be compounded.

In 2004, Cambodia's electricity grid was dominated by fossil fuels -primarily heavy-fuel oil and diesel; by 2013, it was completely transformed with 82% renewable sources: mostly hydropower. The government has also committed to net-zero by 2050, making this plan difficult to achieve as energy emissions keep increasing.    

Across the banks of the Mekong River, by the sprawling grounds by the majestic Royal Palace, Cambodians are sitting on the grass or strolling about, sipping coffee outside the cafes that line the riverfront, as motorcycles and ‘tuktuk’ zip by. Traffic on Phnom Penh’s roads is returning to pre-COVID-19 levels of congestion. Many are heading to coastal provinces to reconnect with friends and family.