Some 185,451 hectares of rice seedlings have been affected by drought in some areas in 13 provinces and cities of Cambodia, according to a report by Agriculture Minister Ouk Rabun, released to the media Monday.

"A lack of water has affected 185,451 hectares of rice fields in which 9,240 hectares have been completely damaged," the minister wrote in a report sent to Prime Minister Hun Sen.

Rains usually begin to fall from May of the year, but this year, an early-season drought lasting a long time has resulted in a lack of water.

He said so far, the country has planted more than 2.12 million hectares of rice seedlings in equivalent to 82.7 percent of the 2. 57-million-hectare production target.

Agriculture is one of the four major pillars supporting the country's economy. The Southeast Asian nation produced over 9 million tons of paddy rice last year.