(Phnom Penh): Chum Kiri district in Kampot province has been officially declared Cambodia’s third Smoke Free District after all 39 villages achieved the required clean cooking standards under SNV Netherlands Development Organisation’s Smoke Free Village (SFV) project.

The declaration ceremony was held on September 22 at Chum Kiri District Hall in Trapaing Veng village, bringing together around 500 participants from government institutions, the private sector, development partners and local communities.

Implemented by SNV in cooperation with the Ministry of Mines and Energy since 2023, the SFV project aims to accelerate the transition from firewood and other biomass fuels to cleaner cooking alternatives, particularly electricity and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG).

The project was launched in Chum Kiri in March 2024. At the outset, only 6% of households primarily used clean cooking fuels. By August 2026, all 39 villages across the district’s seven communes had met the criteria for Smoke Free Village and Smoke Free Commune status, with at least 85% of households in each village primarily using clean cooking energy.

The programme has reached approximately 12,000 households, benefiting 41,757 people, and supported the adoption of 15,863 electric and LPG stoves. Overall firewood use has fallen by 75% compared with the beginning of the project.

Despite near-universal access to electricity or LPG in Cambodia, around 2.7 million rural households still rely on firewood for cooking, consuming an estimated eight million kilograms of wood each day. Household air pollution from solid-fuel cooking remains a major health concern, contributing to more than 10,000 premature deaths annually, while UNICEF estimates that air pollution is associated with 18% of child deaths.

Women and children are particularly exposed to the impacts of traditional cooking. Around 90% of those responsible for cooking are women, who are also often tasked with collecting firewood, adding safety risks, physical burdens and significant time demands.

The shift towards electric and LPG cooking therefore offers benefits beyond reducing household air pollution, including greater safety and convenience while easing pressure on forests.

Chum Kiri becomes Cambodia’s third Smoke Free District, following Banteay Meas district in Kampot province and Basedth district in Kampong Speu province.

The Smoke Free Village programme is funded by Franke, a Switzerland-based kitchen hardware company supporting clean cooking solutions in developing countries.
=FRESH NEWS