Krang Ampil Commune | Kampot Province
Location and Administrative Context:
Krang Ampil is one of the 14 communes that make up Kampot District in Kampot Province, southwestern Cambodia. The commune’s centre lies approximately 6 km southeast of Kampot City and about 80 km east of Sihanoukville on National Road 3 (the primary north‑south route). It borders Sampov Meas to the north, Prek Kdam to the east, Keut Seiham to the south, and the Gulf of Thailand watershed to the west.
Land Area:
According to the Ministry of Planning’s 2019 Gazetteer of Communes, Krang Ampil covers a total area of 33.7 km² (≈ 8,340 acres), comprising low‑lying alluvial plains and a northern fringe of mangrove forest.
Population:
The 2019 Cambodia Commune Census recorded a total population of 5,612 inhabitants living in 1,178 households. Of these, 2,794 were male and 2,818 female, giving a sex ratio of 99.3 males per 100 females. The median age was 24 years; individuals under 30 years accounted for 56 percent of the population.
Village Structure:
Krang Ampil is subdivided into four villages (phum): Krang Ampil, Prey Chhor, Ko Pheung, and Svay Ror. Each village contains several hamlets (kums); the commune as a whole has twelve kums, each administered by an elected headman who reports to the Commune Development Committee.
Economic Profile:
- Agriculture dominates land use; cultivated area totals roughly 9 km² (≈ 27 percent of the commune’s total surface). Paddy rice is grown on about 55 percent of cultivated parcels, with an average annual yield of 4.3 t/ha recorded in 2021 by the provincial Department of Agriculture. Secondary crops include cassava (≈ 6 km²), corn (≈ 2 km²), and vegetables for local markets.
- Aquaculture thrives in the brackish channels that feed into the nearby Kampong Bay River. In 2022, the provincial fisheries office reported an aquaculture output of 15 tonnes of pangasius catfish, 8 tonnes of tiger shrimp (Penaeus monodon), and 12 tonnes of tilapia raised in earthen ponds.
- Livestock is present on about 38 percent of households; the main species are chickens (average flock size ≈ 45 birds) and water buffaloes (average herd size ≈ 12 animals).
Infrastructure:
- Road Network: An unpaved secondary road connects the commune hall to National Road 3 and links with provincial roads that lead toward Kampot City and Kep Province. The main internal feeder routes are lateritic earth roads, classified as Class III by the Ministry of Public Works; they become impassable during peak monsoon months (September–October).
- Electricity: Grid extension completed in 2021 provided electricity to 74 percent of households. The remaining 26 percent rely on diesel generators or solar home‑systems installed through a World Bank pilot project (Phase II, 2022). Rural potable water coverage stands at 39 percent; most residents collect rainwater using tarps and store it in concrete drums with filtration units.
- Education: The commune hosts one public primary school (Krang Ampil Primary School) enrolling approximately 785 pupils across six grades, and a secondary school (Svay Ror Secondary School) with about 302 students covering Grades 7–9. Both institutions follow the Ministry of Education curriculum and receive annual operational subsidies from the Provincial Department of Education.
- Health Services: A Commune Health Centre staffed by two nurses provides outpatient care, family planning, immunisation, antenatal check‑ups, and basic laboratory services; referrals for advanced treatment are directed to Kampot Provincial Hospital (≈ 12 km away).
Environmental Features:
The northern sector of Krang Ampil includes a protected mangrove area covering roughly 380 ha. This forest was officially designated as a Community Conservation Zone in 2019 and serves as habitat for mud crabs (Scylla serrata), salt‑marsh birds, and the occasional estuarine dolphin sighting during high tide. The mangroves are also used by locals for firewood and traditional basket weaving materials.
Climate:
As part of Kampot’s tropical monsoon climate, Krang Ampil receives an average annual precipitation of 2,385 mm, concentrated between May and October. The dry season (November–April) features mean daily temperatures ranging from 26 °C to 31 °C, with relative humidity averaging 70‑80 percent year‑round.
Recent Development Initiatives:
In 2023, the Kampot Provincial Office of Rural Development launched a Integrated Rice‑Fish project on 45 hectares of flood‑plain land. According to official monitoring reports (July 2023), pilot plots recorded an average rice yield increase of 11 percent and fish production of 2.8 t/ha, while soil organic matter improved from 0.9 % to 1.2 % over the three‑year trial period.
Historical Note:
During the Khmer Rouge regime (1975–1979), agricultural fields were abandoned and much of the population evacuated; post‑1979 repatriation efforts led by UNTAK resulted in a gradual return of former residents to cultivate rice paddies under collective ownership arrangements.