Model of Irrigation Development for Floodplain of the Tonle Sap Great Lake

Rice is a staple crop in Cambodia. To meet the large requirement of rice consumption due to rapid increased population and to boost the economy, the rice production in this country needs to be enhanced. The Tonle Sap Great Lake of Cambodia has huge floodplain suitable for large amount for rice production and potential water resources for rice-based farming system. Due to large variation of water level of the lake, some areas around the lake are flooded in wet season and shortage of water in dry season. Studies to exploit the flood and the water rsources of the lake and its tributaries have not been well conducted yet. The West Baray and Batheay irrigation systems are located in the floodplain of the Tonle Sap Great Lake and the Mekong
River. In this research, the irrigation systems are studied as model sites for future development of the floodplain of the Tonle Sap Great Lake.