Water resources for water, food and energy security

Published: 29-Apr-15 Cambodia Herald

PHNOM PENH (Catch and Culture) -- The water-food-energy security nexus is a revolutionary concept and approach for the sustainable development of the Mekong River. For Cambodia, the Mekong is more than just a stream or water: it is an irreplaceable source of life. During the rainy season, when the water level in the Mekong rises and then flows into the Tonle Sap River, the level in the Tonle Sap Lake rises accordingly.

At the end of the rainy season, the water level in the Mekong begins to drop gradually. The level of the Tonle Sap Lake also goes down and reverses its flow into the Mekong, marking the beginning of the fishing season in Cambodia.

This exceptional phenomenon has made the Tonle Sap home to the largest freshwater capture fisheries in the world. During the fishing season, many Cambodians in rural areas go to the Tonle Sap to catch fish to produce a fermented fish and other sorts of dried and smoked fish as sources of staple food and nutrition all year round. 

Cambodia is therefore emboldened to see the efforts of the Friends of the Lower Mekong combining their efforts to further strengthen cooperation with the Mekong countries on sustainable use and development of the Mekong water to cope with the multitude of interdependent challenges. The thirst for energy for development has led to the development of hydropower without much recognition or with

limited consideration on the “health" of rivers and its impact on food security. 

Watt Botkosal, Deputy Secretary General of the Cambodia National Mekong Committee (CNMC) shares the view that, in the context of Cambodia's national and transboundary river basin, there is a clear nexus between hydropower development and food for the poor (thus a hydropower-food nexus). He has called for a thorough Cooperative Regional Assessment (CRA) to ensure that sound social and environmental safeguards are identified and put in place to avoid irreversible damage to the vital ecosystems and food production systems which sustain millions of lives throughout the Mekong River Basin. This initiative would be a positive contribution to the realisation of the water-food-energy security nexus.

THE AUTHOR IS ADVISOR TO THE ROYAL GOVERNMENT OF CAMBODIA AND A MEMBER OF THE LOWER MEKONG INITIATIVE EMINENT AND EXPERT PERSONS GROUP WHICH HELD ITS INAUGURAL GATHERING IN BANGKOK IN LATE JANUARY