July 7, 2025
PHNOM PENH – The five-day lottery for the “Forest Protection Land Grant for Sustainable Development” programme, held from June 30, has concluded. A total of 500 landless, impoverished families from across the Kingdom were announced as winners during a live broadcast of the lottery.
The initiative was proposed last year by Prime Minister Hun Manet. Of the 12,329 families who applied, 2,500 were selected for the first round of the lottery, with just 500 families awarded land in this initial draw.
A working group will conduct on-site interviews with the selected families to ensure they meet the programme’s strict criteria. Candidates but hold Cambodian citizenship, not own any land of their own and fall into the category of impoverished.
The programme’s committee issued a press release explaining that the lottery draw was conducted transparently, with participation from monks, the Anti-Corruption Unit, civil society organisations and youth from the Union of Youth Federations of Cambodia. The event was broadcast live on national television, as well as on social media.
Assuming they meet the criteria, the 500 winning families will relocate to two communes in Sesan district, Stung Treng province.
Sar Sovann, Minister Delegate Attached to the Prime Minister and permanent vice-chairman of the National Committee overseeing the programme, explained that the Siem Reap Techo Engineering Team has cleared over 73 kilometres of roading at the selected site. They have elevated approximately 61 kilometres of roadbeds and completed 30 kilometres of road construction.
He added that a modern agricultural community will be established to improve the living standards of the fortunate families relocating there, in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries.