Parts of Cambodia are expected to experience medium to heavy rain from April 2-7 with temperatures ranging from 24 o 37C across the country, the Ministry of Water Resources and Meteorology said.

A ministry notice said Cambodia would experience low pressure systems and winds from the South China Sea from April 1-7, which will likely bring rainfall to the central plains, the northeastern highland and the coast.

The central plains and northwest region are expected to see medium to heavy rainfall from April 2-6, while the northeastern highland area can expect the same weather from April 4-7.

The coast and parts of Koh Kong province are predicted to experience medium to heavy rainfall from April 2-7.

“Please be careful with the thunder, lightning strikes and rainstorms,” the notice advised.

Cambodia Coalition of Farmer Community’s (CCFC) provincial head in Preah Sihanouk, Sun Sophat, told The Post on Tuesday that his community has been waiting a long time for rain to begin growing rice crops.

“If it rains heavily in early April, it will make our farmers happy. They need to use water to do family-scale farming.

“Once the rainy season comes, [we] can obtain sufficient water to use. Some areas have irrigation systems, but they are useless because they have dried out,” he said.

Sophat also expressed concern that if there isn’t enough rainfall and the water evaporates quickly, the farmers in the province won’t be able to plant their crops.

If there isn’t enough rainfall, those with wells can get by temporarily, but those without them will face a very problematic situation.

He said: “Our farmers in the area would like to appeal to the commune authorities to do whatever it takes to help ensure there is sufficient water to use in our community.”

On March 23, the ministry announced that the government built 2,483 irrigation systems last year, which covers 62 per cent, or 1.84 million hectares, of the country’s farmland.