Food and water supplies - Essay Example

116207 Cambodian problem is unique in Asia with a precarious food and water situation. The country is facing a chronic food shortage. Due to prolonged conflict, the food production and social fabric both are completely damaged. National food supplies are inadequate. Natural disasters and imperfect agricultural policies have created problems in distribution and the national food supplies are inadequate. Malnutrition in rural Cambodia is rampant. In primitive societies, each society or household was self-sufficient food wise and they bartered food for other products1.

20th century saw food economy going global and there came an immediate requirement for food security2. Cambodia's land resources are not enough for considerable food production. In addition, the country is facing persistently unfortunate landmines, wars, floods and the displaced people are yet to be rehabilitated. Royal Government of Cambodia is not highly enthusiastic about their resettlement or about the proper distribution. But it has doubled its efforts in increasing the food production to feed its rural masses, which is its urgent need.

The food production can be maximized by the following methods:1. Rice production has to be encouraged, assisted and increased on top priority. Legumes, vegetables and other profitable crops with nutritional and income value should be grown with as much assistance as possible from central and local governments. 2. Live stock, small and big animal husbandry to be encouraged and monitored. 3. Increasing fish resources in lakes, rivers, open-water bodies, and by pond culture, rice-fish culture in scientific and participatory management way maintaining ecological integrity is another method.

Making more land available for food production, monitoring its use and increasing food production in every possible means, seems to be the best way of targeting this problem, mainly because, live stock and fisheries could bring an additional income; but never could take the place of major food substitute. Cambodia is a traditionally rice growing country with its own food habits and this could be served well by growing adequate food. Due to corruption, inefficiency, mismanagement, illegal water connections, water supply in Cambodia, mainly in the cities had become a nightmare with blame game intact.

Water was wasted aplenty for the elaborate washing of hands and feet before every praying and this means five times a day. With very little water management in place, lack of political will and determination, water was taken for granted, excessively used and was treated as a perpetually available product. Poor control of water had brought the country to the brink of a major disaster. Water supply is already being targeted in phase 1 and phase 2 by central government and the award winning Phnom Penh water supply authority.

Serious problems in sewage and waste water supply too are being targeted. Better control and management of water, awareness that water is a perishable resource, empowering the local bodies, frequent monitoring, help from international bodies, trying to provide as clean water as possible, stopping illegal tapping of water, the water situation can be improved and is improving in Cambodia. Government could be successful only with the help of donor community, local communities and international organisations3.

This means connected agencies, local authorities and all development partners should closely cooperate to achieve these common objectives. There seems to be an ongoing disaster management in both food and water sphere. ONLINE SOURCES:1. http://www.camnet.com.kh/ocm/government66.htm2. http://www.worldwatercouncil.org/fileadmin/wwc/Library/Publications_and_reports/country_reports/report_Indonesia.pdf3. http://www.foodsecurity.gov.kh/CamSituation.aspx4.