Officials of Kampong Cham’s provincial agriculture department organised the Cambodian Corn Kernal Show Day for CHM01 in collaboration with the KOPIA Cambodia Center in Koh Sotin commune of Kampong Cham’s Koh Sotin district on March 21. Kampong Cham provincial agriculture department
The promotion of Cambodia’s first hybrid corn variety (CHM01) promises to revolutionise the local industry in a stride towards enhancing the country’s agricultural landscape.
The competitive improvement was unveiled during an international workshop held on June 28, jointly organised by the Korea Program for International Cooperation in Agriculture (KOPIA) Cambodia Center and Kampong Cham’s Provincial Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries.
The workshop, hosted at a prominent hotel in Phnom Penh, gathered around 70 participants, including experts from Cambodia, South Korea and Vietnam.
Chan Saruth, undersecretary of state at the agriculture ministry, thanked the KOPIA Center for its cooperation in making the country’s first hybrid strain a success.
He said provinces such as Kampong Cham, Tbong Khmum, Kandal, Battambang and Pailin have helped Cambodian farmers understand and reduce the cost of corn production.
He also advised farmers to independently continue their development plans, progressing step by step to strengthen their operations, even though the project continues to provide assistance.
"So far, we have been able to build capacity and provide resources through the project, and we need to use them effectively and objectively to continue this work smoothly," he said.
CHM01 represents Cambodia’s inaugural hybrid corn variety specifically tailored for feed purposes.
Developed through a collaborative effort since 2013, involving the General Directorate of Agriculture and the Rural Development Administration (RDA) of Korea under the KOPIA project, the strain showcases robust characteristics essential for local agricultural needs.
This year, in cooperation with Kampong Cham’s provincial agriculture department, an exhibition was held to compare the hybrid with imported varieties, and a demonstration of a cultivation field test was given to provide farmers with an opportunity to directly evaluate it on site.
“The hybrid vigor of CHM01, derived from parent lines sourced from Korea, Mexico and Vietnam, ensures high yields comparable to imported varieties, averaging 8.7 tons per hectare during the dry season,” said Song Young Ju, director of KOPIA in Cambodia.
He noted that the new variety boasts approximately 560 to 640 kernels per ear, distinguished by a dark orange color, and exhibits remarkable resistance to downy mildew – a common challenge in Cambodian corn farming.
“With a growth cycle of about 100 to 105 days, CHM01 is strategically designed to optimise labour distribution in corn cultivation areas and mitigate risks associated with seasonal flooding,” he told The Post on July 1.
According to Song, corn ranks as Cambodia’s third most cultivated crop after rice and cassava, covering an average of 200,000 hectares annually.
Despite its significant role in local agriculture, the country has historically relied on imported kernels, primarily from neighbouring countries like Vietnam and Thailand.
He said the introduction of this strain aims to reduce foreign seed dependency, potentially saving up to $30 million annually in foreign currency outflows.
“By promoting local production and distribution of CHM01 kernels – expected to cost between $4 to $5 per kilogramme, lower than imported alternatives – Cambodia anticipates a boost in agricultural self-sufficiency and economic resilience,” Song said.
He mentioned the successful cultivation of the variety across more than 750 hectares since 2021 underscores its growing acceptance and potential to further consolidate the country’s position in regional corn production.
"We are very [pleased] with the opportunity to produce and distribute kernels of varieties developed in Cambodia, moving away from importing and cultivating seeds from Thailand and Vietnam," Song added.
