National Assembly approved $2.4 billion national budget for 2011

Cambodia's National Assembly

Last week, Cambodia’s National Assembly passed US$2.4 billion national budget for 2011 by focusing on improving education, health, agriculture, irrigation systems and infrastructure development. It increases about 19 percent, compared to 2010 budget, only US$1.98 billion.

The 2011 budget, totaling $2.4 billion, allocates military and security spending of $304 million, including $190 million for the Ministry of Defense. The Interior Ministry received $114 million, health $169 million, and education $223 million.

The government expected that the approval of national budget for 2011 would help Cambodia achieve economic growth of 7 percent in the coming year.

Yim Sovann, the San Rainsy Party’s lawmaker, was quoted by the VOA as saying that the sectors of the government considered a priority, like Ministry of Agriculture, received 1.8 percent of the total expenditure. The ministries of rural development, land management and water resources each only receive 1 percent of the total.

Executive Director of the NGO Forum, Chhit Sam Ath, was quoted by the Post as saying that the insufficient funds had been allocated to the agriculture sector.

He added that “we would like the government to prioritize the agriculture sector because many Cambodian farmers are living in rural areas and most of them are doing agriculture for their livelihood.” He also appeared to the government to invest more in improving rice productivity, agricultural education and irrigation.