Climate change is having a profound impact on farmers in Cambodia. Rising temperatures—which have increased at a rate of +0.23 °C per decade since 1950—combined with highly variable rainfall patterns, are disrupting agricultural livelihoods across the country. Farmers face increasing dry spells, more frequent extreme heat days, and the persistent threat of droughts and floods linked to shifting weather patterns—challenges that climate scientists warn are likely to intensify in the coming decades.
“In some years, there is a lot of rain, while in other years, there is very little,” says farmer Pheoun Yea. “At the beginning of 2025, the weather was very hot, and then when the rains came, they weren’t consistent, so our crops struggled to grow.”
Pheoun Yea raises cattle on seven hectares of land in the Chi Kraeng district of Siem Reap province. He also cultivates rice and has planted cashews to tap into a growing market. But he struggles to maintain his family and cover expenses: “We have had to borrow money to keep going,” he explains.
“Most of the farmers I meet have problems associated with climate change because their farming largely depends on rainfall,” Commune Agriculture Officer, Poun Keang adds. “If the rain does not fall consistently during the season when they farm, their production suffers, and their crop yields are low. They also struggle to find enough grass or fodder for their livestock to graze upon.” Full story is available here.