Pursat Province
Tonle Sap fishery (3rd highest fisher density, 70.9kg fish/person/year) meets Cardamom watershed. French colonial oranges diversify rice. By 2026: balancing intensification with conservation.
Pursat Province occupies the ecological interface between two of Cambodia's most productive systems: the Tonle Sap fishery to the east and the Cardamom Mountain watershed to the west. This positioning creates a provincial economy that functions as metabolic junction—converting fish protein, rice calories, and fruit sugars through distinct but interconnected production systems.
The Tonle Sap interface dominates Pursat's economic identity. With one of the largest coastlines along the lake and the third-highest fisher density (35 per 1,000 inhabitants), the province extracts disproportionate value from Cambodia's freshwater fishery. Fish consumption of 70.9 kg per person annually exceeds national averages, indicating both production surplus and protein-centric dietary patterns. The lake system provides approximately 60% of Cambodia's annual freshwater catch exceeding 400,000 tons—protein source for 60% of the national population.
The Cardamom Mountains create the province's western boundary, including Phnom Aural (1,813m)—Cambodia's highest peak. These mountains function as watershed and biodiversity reservoir, with flooded-forest restoration since 2010 restoring approximately 600 hectares and planting over 270,000 seedlings. This conservation investment represents deliberate maintenance of ecological infrastructure supporting downstream fishery productivity.
French colonial agricultural experiments persist in Pursat's orange cultivation. The green-skinned variety introduced during colonial administration thrives in mountainous foothills, creating an agricultural niche distinct from lowland rice dominance. This diversification beyond rice monoculture differentiates Pursat from other Tonle Sap provinces.
JICA's 2024 intermittent irrigation pilot in Pursat signals intensification pressure—attempting to raise rice yields from 2.8 tons/hectare (rainfed) toward 4.1 tons/hectare (irrigated) while optimizing water use. By 2026, Pursat's trajectory involves balancing fishery sustainability, mountain conservation, and agricultural intensification within the same watershed system.