Irrigated Agriculture Improvement Project (RRP CAM 51159-002) Detailed Poverty and Social Impact Analysis November 2019 Cambodia: Irrigated Agriculture Improvement Project Prepared by the Pacific Rim Innovation and Management Exponents, Inc. on behalf the Ministry of Water Resources and Meteorology for the Asian Development Bank. ABBREVIATIONS ADB – Asian Development Bank CDB – Communal Database CPS – Country Partnership Strategy DMS – Detailed Measurement Survey DDREM – Due Diligence Report on Ethnic Minority FGD Focus Group Discussion FWUC – Farmer Water User Committee GDR – General Department of Resettlement HIV/AIDS – Human Immunodeficiency Virus/ Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome IAIP – Irrigated Agriculture Improvement Project IRC – Inter-ministerial Resettlement Committee LARP – Land Acquisition and Resettlement Plan MEF – Ministry of Economic and Finance MOWRAM – Ministry of Water Resources and Meteorology NGO – Non-government Organization NSDP – National Strategic Development Plan O&M – Operation & Maintenance PDWRAM – Provincial Department of Water Resources and Meteorology PMIC – Project Management and Implementation Consultant PMU – Project Management Unit PRSC – Provincial Resettlement Sub-Committee PRSC-WG – Provincial Resettlement Sub-Committee Working Group PSA – Poverty and Social Assessment RGC – Royal Government of Cambodia ROW – Right of Way SES – Socio-Economic Survey STIs – Sexually Transmitted Infections TRTA – Transaction Technical Assistance UN – United Nations WB – World Bank 1 I. INTRODUCTION A. Project Background 1. The Irrigated Agriculture Improvement Project (the Project) will will assist the Government of Cambodia to: (i) modernize, and improve climate and disaster resilience of four irrigation systems in Battambang, Kampong Cham, Kampong Thom, and Takeo provinces to supply water to 43,500 hectares (ha) for 291,847 persons, of whom 148,288 (51%) are women; (ii) ensure sustainability of these irrigation schemes by strengthening institutional and financial capacity of the government staff and farmer water user communities (FWUCs) in operations and maintenance (O&M); (iii) improve farming practices for increased agriculture productivity and crop diversification; and (iv) establish a national water resources data management center (NWRDMC), a water resources information system (WRIS), and an irrigation asset management system for better water resources management, planning, operations and investment. The outcome of the project is water and agriculture productivity in the project areas enhanced. The impact of the project is inclusive economic growth through agriculture and irrigation attained aligned with the Rectangular Strategy on Growth, Employment, Equity and Efficiency, Phase IV, 2019 to 2023 of the Government of Cambodia. 2. The Project has two outputs: (i) efficiency and climate resilience of irrigation systems enhanced and (ii) water resource management improved. Under Output 1, the project will modernize, and climate-proof four irrigation systems to ensure irrigation for about 43,500 ha of agricultural land. It will (i) remodel and improve reservoir embankment, drains, and main and secondary canals, and design joint reservoir operation to improve water sharing arrangements between linked systems and ensure equitable water distribution, particularly during droughts for two subprojects (Kamping Puoy and Stung Chinit South); (ii) modernize pumping stations, drains, and main and secondary canals for two subprojects (Prek Po and Canal 15); (iii) strengthen existing FWUC and forming additional FWUCs with strong women participation, and help them collect irrigation service fees and perform sustainable O&M of the distribution canals; (iv) pilot an irrigation asset management information system to improve O&M budgeting and procedures; and (v) formulate Sustainable Rice Platform (SRP) in the Stung Chinit South subproject for farmers to achieve a premium price for rice by complying with the SRP production standards. For Output 2, the project will: (i) install hydromet stations to provide data for water resources management in Battambang and Kampong Cham provinces; (ii) establish a NWRDMC in the Ministry of Water Resources and Meteorology (MOWRAM) including a building equipped with data management facilities (database and server system, analytical system, dissemination facilities, and a doppler radar to track extreme weather events); (iii) develop a WRIS using satellite-based information and ground observation as a common platform for sharing water resources management data; (iv) train MOWRAM and its provincial departments staff on water accounting and data management; and (v) provide a program for scholarships, internships, training, and mentoring in water resources management for MOWRAM staff. B. Subproject Background 3. Four subprojects have been selected to be included in the Project, consisting of (i) Kamping Pouy irrigation subproject in Battambang province (ii) Prek Po irrigation scheme in Kampong Cham province; (iii) Stung Chinit South in Kampong Thom province; and (iv) Canal 15 in Takeo province. 4. Prek Po Subproject: The irrigation scheme of Prek Po in the province of Kampong Cham is located some 50 km north east of Phnom Penh. The system is to draw water from the Mekong 2 through a pump station for maximum of 12-meter lift. At present, the system is non-functional as the pumping station broke down some two years ago, and is beyond repairs. The system distribution facilities are in extreme poor shape in main canal and secondaries, as these are significantly eroded due to use for irrigation and now rainfall, in overall unstable and unsuitable soil; the first kilometre has also become a waste disposal for the village at the canal entrance. The subproject targets to improve irrigation for an area of 8,000 ha in the area. 5. The proposed civil works under the subproject include: • A new pumping station: The existing cascading unfunctional pumping station (driven by diesel machines) is proposed to be replaced by one pumping station driven by electrical motors. Five pumps of each 300 kW capacity installed is proposed on the bank of the Mekong River to pump total 5.5m3/s discharge to a static head of 12.1m. Four pumps will be operated in a time and one pump will be in standby. • Main canal upgrading: The total length of the main canal to be upgraded is 12.75 km. The alignment of the canal passes through the dispersive soil. In view of cost of pumping and assuring both system stability and high irrigation efficiency (75%), the solution proposed is the full concrete lining along the whole 12.75 km length. • Secondary canals construction: Twenty-two (22) concrete lined secondary canals with total length of 70 km with each canal located besides the existing secondary drain, one (01) km apart from each other. • Structures construction: A total of 350 structures (off-takes, culverts, drain inlets, flushing structures, barrel outlet, siphons, check structure with gates, tail regulator, outlets, aqueducts, etc.) will be constructed. 6. Kamping-Pouy Subproject The Kamping Pouy Irrigation System stretches for 35 kilometers (km) from the west of Battambang Town to the reservoir and system canal intakes. Battambang province is located in the northwest part of Cambodia. It is bordered by the provinces of Banteay Meanchey to the north, Pursat to the east and south, Siem Reap to the northeast, and Pailin to the west (Error! Reference source not found.). At present, in general - the main canal is functional, however some sections of the side slopes are eroded or covered with heavy vegetation, causing siltation inside the canal and resulting in a narrower access road. Most of the regulating structures on the main canal have piping problems and are eroded on the downstream portions. In addition, most of the control and distribution structures are damaged. Water overtops the secondary canal embankment during full supply due to the inadequate height of the embankment. Farmers at the tail-end of the secondary canals do not get enough water due to the insufficient capacity of the distribution structures. Kamping Pouy Irrigation subproject targets to improve irrigation for the command area of 12,000 ha in five communes of Banan district, Thmar Kol district and Battambang district. Proposed civil works under the subproject include: • Strengthening of the reservoir embankment of 6.5 km by providing erosion protection on the upstream slope; • Upgrading of the 13.9-km length of Link Canal with 8 km concrete lining for diverting additional water from Mongkol Borey River to Kamping Pouy Reservoir; • Upgrading of the 14.14-km main canal, including the concrete lining of an initial 9.17 km, upgrading the earthworks in the non-lined section, and improving 28 distribution and 3 control structures; • Rehabilitation of secondary irrigation canals SC1 and SSC1 with a total length of 12.7 km by the concrete lining of 5.7 km and installation of 41 appurtenant structures within the subproject target command area to ensure water delivery to 6,083 ha; • Rehabilitation of secondary irrigation and drainage canals SCD2, SCD3, SCD4, and SCD5 with a total length of 6.9 km and improvement and installation of 101 associated structures to the canals to ensure water delivery to 5,517 ha and prevent the inundation of paddy lands within the command area. 7. Stung Chinit South Subproject. The target of subproject is to ensure water supply in the dry season for about 16,000 ha of agricultural land in the subproject area. The proposed system