More land is being farmed, more food is being produced and many fewer people are going hungry in Cambodia, as the country rebounds from decades of conflict. Between 1980 and 1996, farmers almost doubled the area on which they were growing crops. Yields of rice, Cambodia's main staple food, shot up by 64 percent. Pork, beef and poultry production expanded rapidly. Because of the gains in food production, Cambodians are eating substantially better, even though the population has continued to grow rapidly and food imports have declined. Despite this recent progress, however, Cambodia remains a very poor country, and many of its people still suffer from food insecurity. Even after a 21 percent jump since 1980, Cambodians' average food intake in 1996 is scarcely enough to meet the minimum daily requirement. More than one-third of all households fall below the poverty line. The country's poverty is reflected in the lack of diversity in people's diets. Almost 80 percent of the average daily calorie intake comes from rice. Decades of war and civil strife left traditional irrigation systems in ruins. Many fields had been abandoned to landmines. The peace settlement in 1979 opened the door for recovery; an economic reform programme introduced in 1992 brought inflation under control. Farmers responded by increasing the area cultivated, expanding rice production and diversifying into crops and animal products for export. Programmes to remove landmines and rehabilitate irrigation systems are continuing. A programme has also been put in place to reduce poverty by creating jobs for vulnerable groups.
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