Introduction
Welcome to the Provincial Food Security Profile pages for Prey Veng. This first section provides background information on this province including an administrative map and information on its geography, and population.Administrative Map of Prey Veng
This map shows the district and commune names and boundaries in Prey Veng, together with major roads and rivers, for your reference.
Map: Province Administrative map year 2000
Prey Veng is located in the Southeast of Cambodia. It borders Kampong Cham to the North, Svay Rieng to the East, Vietnam to South and the Mekong River and Kandal to the West. The area of the province is 4883 square kilometers (MAFF www.maff.gov.kh). The topography is of most of the province is lowland paddy fields. Along the western border formed by the Mekong River there are floodplain areas. Prey Veng is classified as a rural province.
In 2004 the estimated population was 1.0 million persons and was 53% female. The population of children aged under 5 years was 116 thousand which was 11% of the total province population (NIS 2004). The Dependency Ratio (numbers of persons <15 years and 65 or over years per 100 adults aged 15-64 years) was 69.
The total number of households in 2004 was 218 thousand, giving an average household size of 4.8 persons (MAFF 2004). The people of Prey Veng live in 12 districts composed of 115 communes and 1138 villages (CDB 2004).
The population density of the province is 212 persons/km2 compared to an average population density for Cambodia of 75 persons/km2.
mortality Indicator | Rate Percent | Rate Prov.Rank | Number of Children Affected | Number Prov.Rank |
Infant Population (aged < 1 year) | - | - | 23,969 | 4 |
Infant Mortality (aged < 1 year) | 11.1% | 4 | 2,661 | 2 |
Child Population (Aged 0-<5 years) | - | - | 127,451 | 4 |
Under 5 year Mortality (aged 0-5 years) | 15,1% | 5 | 19,283 | 2 |
Mortality among Children
Malnutrition is a common contributing cause of death among children. Table 14.1 below shows estimates for the year 2000 of the rates and numbers of children who died prematurely in Prey Veng.
These mortality rates are very high and the actual numbers of children dying prematurely are amongst the highest of all provinces in Cambodia. Sadly, the estimate is that over 19,000 children aged under 5 years died prematurely in Prey Veng in the five years to 2000. Over 2,600 infants aged aged under 1 year had died in the preceding one year to the year 2000.
Table 14.1 Child Mortality in Prey Veng at Year 2000
Sources: Estimates calculated from CDHS 2000 & NIS 2004.
Protein-Energy Malnutrition among ChildrenTable 14.2 below shows estimates for the years 2000 and 2005 of the rates and numbers of children aged under five years suffering from protein-energy malnutrition in Prey Veng. Three indicators are used: Stunting (height for age) Underweight (weight for age) and Wasting (weight for height). The international WFP child nutrition standards categories for the rates are also included.
In 2005 Stunting rates were high (a decrease from year 2000) and over 44,000 children were Stunted (a large decrease from year 2000). Underweight rates were extremely high (the same as in year 2000) and over 48,000 children were Underweight (a large decrease from year 2000). Wasting rates were high (a decrease from year 2000) and over 13,000 children were Wasted (a decrease decrease from year 2000).
Table 14.1 Child Mortality in Prey Veng at Year 2000
Sources: Estimates calculated from CDHS 2000 & NIS 2004.
Protein-Energy Malnutrition among ChildrenTable 14.2 below shows estimates for the years 2000 and 2005 of the rates and numbers of children aged under five years suffering from protein-energy malnutrition in Prey Veng. Three indicators are used: Stunting (height for age) Underweight (weight for age) and Wasting (weight for height). The international WFP child nutrition standards categories for the rates are also included.
In 2005 Stunting rates were high (a decrease from year 2000) and over 44,000 children were Stunted (a large decrease from year 2000). Underweight rates were extremely high (the same as in year 2000) and over 48,000 children were Underweight (a large decrease from year 2000). Wasting rates were high (a decrease from year 2000) and over 13,000 children were Wasted (a decrease decrease from year 2000).
Table 14.2 Child Malnutrition in Prey Veng Years 2000 and 2005
| mortality Indicator | Indicator RatePercent 2000 | WFP Rate Category 2000 | Number of Children Affected 2000 | Rate Percent 2005 | WFP Rate Category 2005 | Number of Children Affected 2005 |
| Population Children Aged Under 5 years | 100% | - | 127,451 | 100% | - | 117,485 |
| Stunted (moderate & severe <-2SD | 51.2% | Extremely High | 65,255 | 38.3% | High | 44,997 |
| Underweight (moderate & severe <-2SD) | 56.8% | Extremely High | 72,392 | 41.3% | Extremely High | 48,521 |
| Wasted (moderate & severe <-2SD) | 15.1% | Very High | 19,245 | 11.3% | High | 13.276 |
Sources: CDHS 2000 & 2005
As shown in the table above the decline in number of children aged under 5 years affected by malnutrition is partly due to lower malnutrtion rates and is also partly due to the smaller population of children in 2005. The smaller population of children in 2005 is the combined result of mothers giving birth to fewer children by 2005 and the premature death of children aged under 5 years over the period 2000-2005.Rank Comparison of Malnutrition in Prey Veng with all 24 provinces in 2005
Table 14.3 Ranks the 2005 child under 5 year malnutrition outcomes described above in comparison to all other provinces in Cambodia. Comparing food security outcomes in this province to all other provinces of Cambodia:- The prevalence of Under 5 year mortality was relatively very high. The prevalence of malnutrition among the child population was very high. The actual numbers of children affected by malnutrition (considering differences in the child population of each province) was relatively low to very high varying by indicator.
Table 14.3 How Malnutrition in Prey Veng Ranks Compared to all 24 Provinces of Cambodia in 2005
| Malnutrition Indicator | Rank of This Province Compared to all 24 Provinces: 1= the worst 24= the best |
| Population of Children Aged Under 5 years | 6 |
| Number of Children Stunted | 10 |
| Number of Children Underweight | 7 |
| Number of Children Wasted | 3 |
| Rate of Stunting | 4 |
| Rate of Underweight | 4 |
| Rate of Wasting | 3 |
Below is a series of four maps showing the incidence of Stunting and Underweight by Commune in Prey Veng in 2000. The maps show both the rates and the numbers of children affected by commune. These estimateswere made by WFP using small area estimation techniques. These maps now categorise communes by the new 2005 international WFP child nutrition standards.
It is important to note that there are variations between the direct CHDHS 2000 province level estimates of Stunting and Wating presented above (which are the best current estimates for the province level in 2000) and the WFP commune estimates for the individual communes across the province presented in the following maps (percentage and number of children affected). This is a result of the the WFP commune estimates being based on a different methodology (small area estimation techniques-SME) and a different child Under 5 population estimate (1998 Census).
Despite these variations, these WFP commune level estimates or malnutrition are the only estimates of the geographical distribution of malnutrition within provinces for all communes in the country. They remain a useful tool to examine the relative incidence of child malnutrition by commune within provinces and give an initial estimate of proportions and numbers of children affected by commune in year 2000.
Children aged <5 years Stunted: Percent by Commune in Prey Veng province year 2000
Map PVG 05.00 shows that almost all communes in the province had at least a Very High percentage of children Stunted. Communes with Extremely High rates of Stunting were also very common, particularly around the geographical centre of the province north of Highway 1.
Communes with Extremely High rates of Stunting represented all communes in Me Sang District, most communes in the neighbouring districts of Ba Phnum, and Kampong Trabek and a large proportion of the communes in nearby districts of Peam Ro to the West, Kampong Leav and Prey Veng to the northwest and Preah Sdach to the South.
Note that these commune level percentages derived from the SME technique and therefore the WFP Nutrition Standard commune categories are on average almost the same as the direct CDHS estimates for the province level presented above.
Map PVG 05.00: Children aged <5 years Stunted: Percent by Commune in Prey Veng province year 2000
Children aged <5 years Stunted: Number of Children by Commune in Prey Veng province year 2000
Map PVG 06.00 shows that the number of Stunted children varied substantially by commune within the province due to a combination of differences in commune child populations and Stunting rates at the commune level. These variations can also be seen between communes within most districts.
Communes with >=750 Stunted children per commune were particularly clustered within Me Sang district and on its borders, including an extension in Kamchay Mear district in the north. Other clusters of communes with >=500 Stunted children per commune are particularly noticeable in Pea Reang district in the northwest and in Preah Sdach and Kampong Trabek districts on the southern border.
Map PVG 06.00: Children aged <5 years Stunted: Number of Children by Commune in Prey Veng province year 2000
Children aged <5 years Underweight: Percent by Commune in Prey Veng province year 2000
Map PVG 07.00 shows that a majority of communes in the province in most districts had at least an Extremely High percentage of children Underweight, including quite a number of communes with Extremely High rates of underweight >=50%.
Communes with highest rates of Underweight were most common in the south around Preah Sdach and Kampong Trabek districts, in the central area including Ba Phnum, Pean Ro and Kampong Leav and in scattered communes in the northern districts.
Note that these commune level percentages derived from the SME technique and therefore the WFP Nutrition Standard commune categories are on average substantially lower than the direct CDHS estimates for the province level presented above.
Map PVG 07.00: Children aged <5 years Underweight: Percent by Commune in Prey Veng province year 2000
Map PVG 08.00 shows that the number of Underweight children varied substantially by commune within the province due to a combination of differences in commune child populations and Underweight rates at the commune level. These variations can also be seen between communes within districts.
Communes with >=500 Underweight children were particularly clustered in four areas- in the south in Preah Sdach and Kampong Trabek districts, in the centre in Me Sang district and on its borders, in the northeast in Kamchay Mear district and in the northwest in Kampong Leav and Pea Reang districts.
Map PVG 08.00: Children aged <5 years Underweight: Number of Children by Commune in Prey Veng province year 2000
A lack of food availability can be an important cause of malnutrition and can contribute to premature mortality as well. Food availability is the ability of the people to directly produce the foods they need through their own activities in agriculture and livestock production,and through harvesting wild foods in agricultural commons areas, forests and fisheries.
This section examines evidence for a lack of food availability that might be contributing to child malnutrition and mortality levels found among the population of Prey Veng (see Malnutrition and Food Utilization sections).
Information on food availability is limited in some areas, particularly in relation to wild foods from common property forest, agricultural and fisheries. However, we can still build an overall profile of food availability in Prey Veng from available information while these limitations do still exist in 2004.
Access to Agricultural Land in Prey Veng in 2004
Table 14.2.1 shows the percentage of rural households in Prey Veng by agricultural land holding size.
Rural households in Prey Veng have limited access to agricultural land for crop production in general. Further, there are also large differences in the quantity of agricultural land available to individual rural households. Small land holdings and other factors limiting crop productivity limit food ability for many rural households.
In 2004, 10% of rural households in Prey Veng were landless and did not produce their own staple food crops. A further 53% possessed less than 1.0 hectares of land. These small hold farming households will typically only produce enough food from crop agriculture to meet a part of their staple food needs.
Table 14.2.1 Agricultural Land Access in Prey Veng in 2004
| Rural Households Producing Crops | % of Rural HH This Province | % of Rural HH National |
| Any Season-Any Crop | 90% | 85% |
| Wet Season-Rice Crop | 78% | 69% |
| Dy Season-Rice Crop | 30% | 16% |
Source: MAFF 2004
Crop Production by Type and Season in 2004Rice Production
Table 14.2.3 shows statistic about rice production in Prey Veng. Rice is the staple cereal food crop of rural Cambodians.
Comparing wet season rice production with national averages, the mean rice area cultivated per rural household was similar to than the national level and the rice paddy yield per hectare was lower than the national level.
Comparing dry season rice production with national averages, the mean rice area cultivated per rural household was higher than the national level and the rice paddy yield per hectare was similar to the national level.
Rice production is limited mainly to the wet season. Dry season rice production is undertaken in a limited area but produces higher yields. Dry season rice areas are restricted within the province to only some communities, those with access to groundwater or dry season surface water resources (flood recession, or irrigation). This limitation imposed through dependency on rain-fed crop cultivation is clearly contributing to shortages in food availability.
The area of rice harvested in Prey Veng in 2004 was reduced substantially through destruction of part of the cultivated area due to flood, drought or insects. Further information on crop damage is found in the Food Vulnerability section.
Table 14.2.3 Rice Crop Production by Season in Prey Veng in 2004
| Rice Production Indicator | This Prov Wet Season | National Wet Season | This Prov Dry Season | National Dry Season |
| Area Cultivated- '000 ha. | 186 | 2087 | 64 | 330 |
| Area Harvested- '000 ha. | 161 | 1851 | 62 | 318 |
| Paddy Production '000 MT | 226 | 2918 | 198 | 973 |
| Yield-MT/ha. | 1.4 | 1.6 | 3.2 | 3.1 |
| Paddy % of total crop area cultivated | 96% | 81% | 95% | 84% |
| Mean Area Cultivated/ Rural HH- ha. | 0.8 | 0.9 | 0.3 | 0.1 |
Source: MAFF 2004
Rice Food Balance Table 14.2.4 shows the balance between rice food availability from production and defined minimum white rice food needs of the population of Prey Veng. Rice is the only food crop type for which such a direct measure of food availability compared to food needs can be made.
This overall rice balance at the province level is shown in the table. In addition, to illustrate how rice balances can vary between areas and between households within the province, two further rice balance indicators are included. One is the percentage of communes having >= 100% of minimum rice needs for the commune population. The second rice balance is for small-hold farmers (cropping 0.5 ha. of rice).
At the province level overall the rice balance exceeds the minimum rice food needs of the population. Among the communes of the province 79% of communes produce enough rice to meet minimum food needs while 21% produce less than minimum food needs. Commune level rice balances are mapped at the bottom of this page.
For households that are small-hold farmers 78% of minimum rice needs are derived from the own production. This is indicative of the rice food balance in households farming 0.1- < 1.0 ha. of land shown in Table 14.2.1 above. Furthermore at the household level, it should be noted that the vast majority of the landless will produce no rice at all as very few rent or share-crop rice land.
Table 14.2.4 Rice Food Balance in Prey Veng
| Rural Households Producing Crops | This Province | National |
| Total white rice available for food consumption '000 MT | 236 | 2166 |
| Minimum population white rice food needs/ year '000 MT | 151 | 1713 |
| Provincial Level: overall white rice food balance as % of minimum rice needs | 157% | 126% |
| Commune Level: Percentage of Communes with rice food balance >= 100%. | 79% | 61% |
| Smallholders (cropping 0.5 ha.): white rice food balance as % of minimum rice needs. | 78% | 66% |
