60% of VAICO Irrigation Project in Cambodia has been completed with Concessional Loan by China, after the project is completed, one hundred and eight thousand three hundred acres of paddy field in rainy season and twenty seven thousand one hundred acres in dry season can be irrigated respectively.
Janrita, spokesman of Cambodian Water Resources and Meteorology Ministry revealed to the press that, being the largest irrigation project collaborated by China and Cambodia, Vaico project has the total cost of 200 million US dollars with utilization of Chinese concessional loan. When the whole project is finished, more than 300 thousand acres of arable land in Kampong , Cham provinces can be irrigated.
The main construction contents of VAICO irrigation project includes, construction of 2 main canal irrigation systems with total length of 78 km, 40 km water survey tunnel, sluice of river flood control dam, irrigation waterway, water drainage tunnel, bridge culverts.
He said, this project has 2 phases, the present 1st phase has had 60% completed, after completion of 1st phase, one hundred and eight thousand three hundred acres of paddy field in rainy season and twenty seven thousand one hundred acres in dry season can be irrigated respectively. The second phase has not commenced yet.
As acknowledged, VAICO project commenced on 28th Jan last year, which is the largest irrigation project collaborated by China and Cambodia. The construction unit is Guangdong Foreign Construction Co., Ltd; the supervision unit is Guangzhou Wanan Supervision Co., Ltd. When it is completed, it will guarantee the local irrigation rate; promote the local agricultural development, contributing significantly to the poverty stricken area and to the improvement of daily life.
There are lots of China-aided infrastructure projects, such as roads, bridges, which has accelerated greatly the economic and social development of Cambodia. At present, massive financial support and investment in Cambodian irrigation sector by the Chinese government will definitely drive the overall development of agriculture in Cambodia.