Situated in Southeast Asia (SEA), Vietnam and Cambodia are developing nations where agriculture plays a pivotal role in the economy. Recently, the SEA region has faced challenges in sustaining the production system of its food and water systems due to climate fluctuations. The use of big Earth data has demonstrated significant potential in providing essential operational parameters for agriculture at a very high spatial resolution.
In the 2023 APN Call for Proposals under the Collaborative Regional Research Programme, the full proposal “Strengthening Food Security via Strategic Agricultural Water Management: A Case Study on Assessing Water Demand from High-Resolution SAR Remote Sensing for Enhanced Operational Plans in Water Works Systems of Vietnam and Cambodia” with objective is to create a tool for assessing agricultural water management using the water-demand index (WDI) derived from high-resolution data has received the seed grant funding offer from APN Steering Committee to conduct an initial pilot exercise for improvement for resubmission of the proposal in November 2025.
Under the seed grant project, the WDI index will undergo development and validation by ground truth data to assess its ability to integrate with irrigation system operations, ultimately yielding valuable operational plans and policy recommendations for regions facing with water stress, particularly in Ninh Thuan (Vietnam) and Kompong Thom (Cambodia) provinces (Priority Topic 5).
Project Leader
Farmer/Commune Official, Kampong Thom Province
"With the proposed WDI project, we anticipate significant improvements in our farming practices. The maps will help us better plan, respond to water needs, and make timely requests. This project could be crucial for protecting crops, boosting productivity, and strengthening food security in our region."
Dr Ngo Thi Thuy (Project Leader), The Vietnam Institute of Meteorology, Hydrology and Climate Change
“The project has been a wonderful opportunity for me to collaborate and connect with international scientists in applying remote sensing technology to assess water demand and promote efficient water use in drought-prone areas. Its outcomes lay the foundation for us, as young scientists, to contribute to the shared goals of ensuring food and water security in Viet Nam and Cambodia.”
Mr Sovann Chansopheaktra, Royal University of Phnom Penh, Cambodia
“We are excited to be part of this applied scientific project focused on hydrology and agriculture, the core sectors driving Cambodia’s development. Agriculture remains vital to our economy yet highly vulnerable to climate change, especially in rainfed rice-growing areas. This project brings real opportunities to strengthen productivity and resilience by improving water management. Its outcomes will help both decision-makers and farmers use resources more efficiently, enhance their livelihoods, and support food security both locally and across the region.”
