Trapeang Phleang Commune | Kampot Province
Location and geographic
Trapeang Phleang Commune lies in Chhouk District of Kampot Province, southern Cambodia. It occupies approximately nineteen square kilometers of low‑lying terrain that drains into the Teuk Krosang tributary system. The commune is bounded by Trapeang Kriel to the north, Prey Chhor to the east and the village of Koh Sandet to the south. Main access routes are secondary roads linking it with Provincial Highway 186 and National Road 2, providing regular connections to Kampot City and neighboring districts.
Population statistics
According to the latest figures released by Cambodia’s National Institute of Statistics in 2023, Trapeang Phleang has an estimated resident population of five thousand six hundred thirty‑four people. Households are organized around extended families; children under fifteen represent roughly thirty‑three percent of the total while individuals aged sixty and above account for about nine percent. The demographic pattern reflects a typical rural profile with modest natural increase and limited out‑migration.
Economic activities
Agriculture dominates the local economy, with wet‑paddy rice cultivation covering around fifty‑eight percent of cultivated land. Secondary crops such as maize, cassava and assorted vegetables are grown in rotation to diversify income sources. Small‑scale livestock farming, mainly cattle and goats, supports household consumption and occasional market sales. Seasonal labor migration to Kampot’s industrial zones contributes a supplemental thirty percent of total household earnings.
Infrastructure and public services
The commune is served by paved secondary roads that connect its main villages with provincial highways. A primary school located in the central village offers education up to grade six, enrolling approximately 1,420 pupils across multiple classrooms. Basic health care is provided at a clinic staffed by one qualified nurse; services include maternal‑child check‑ups and routine vaccinations, while more advanced medical needs require referral to Kampot Provincial Hospital.
Historical development
Trapeang Phleang was originally settled in the early twentieth century when families from neighboring provinces cleared forested land for rice cultivation. During the 1960s national irrigation projects expanded canals feeding into adjacent waterways, significantly increasing agricultural output and prompting gradual population growth. Following periods of conflict in the late 1970s, community members participated in post‑conflict reconstruction efforts with assistance from local NGOs focused on land restoration and basic infrastructure repair.
Cultural life and community institutions
Theravada Buddhism plays a central role in communal activities; weekly temple ceremonies attract residents for merit‑making events. Seasonal festivals that celebrate rice harvest cycles feature traditional music, dance performances and communal feasts, reinforcing social cohesion. Cooperative groups are responsible for the upkeep of shared infrastructure such as well heads, irrigation gates and public wells.
Current development initiatives
Since 2019 a pilot drip‑irrigation scheme has been established in the northern fields of Trapeang Phleang under a partnership with an international agricultural research organization. The project aims to improve water efficiency during dry seasons and increase crop yields without expanding farmland. Additionally, the Commune Council has submitted applications for national rural electrification funding intended to extend reliable electricity services to residential households and small commercial enterprises.
Trapeang Phleang Commune presents a distinct rural landscape within Chhouk District characterized by fertile floodplain geography, a steady population size in the mid‑thousands, agriculture centered on rice production with diversified crops and livestock, essential education and health facilities, historical resilience shaped by irrigation development and post‑conflict recovery, vibrant cultural practices tied to seasonal celebrations, and active participation in contemporary water and electricity improvement projects. These factual elements collectively illustrate the commune’s role in regional agricultural output and its ongoing efforts toward sustainable quality of life improvements.