Cambodian organic exports to Australia are expected to gain more momentum after the government inked a deal with Lexmin Pty Ltd’s branch in the Kingdom, according to Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Veng Sakhon.

The Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries’ General Directorate of Agriculture on the afternoon of August 6 signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the firm on “Promoting Organic Horticultural Production and Strengthening Capacity of Farm Workers for On-Farm Job Opportunities in Australia”.

As a witness to the MoU signing ceremony, Sakhon heralded the agreement as the latest in a series of achievements, which he said reflects the ministry’s constant endeavours to help promote and enhance the productivity of organic crops aligned with recognised standards.

And as Cambodian organic foods expand on domestic and international markets and exhibit tangible improvements in quality, the minister said the MoU will help drive development to create a stronger and more prosperous segment.

“This MoU will complement the mutual benefits of building partnerships, as well as developing crop production value chains, sustainable and inclusive processing, competitiveness, climate change resilience and innovation.

“In particular, implementing this MoU will, beyond a doubt, contribute to the fulfilment of the ministry’s strategic plans to boost productivity and improve organic crop diversification,” he said.

He added that the MoU will contribute to the development of agricultural production chains, the processing industry, value-added, and domestic and foreign organic foods markets; create employment opportunities; build technical capacity for farmers; boost incomes and provide a model for collaboration between the state, the private sector, development partners and farming cooperatives.

At the same time, the minister suggested that in order for the MoU to be more effective, the company should seek additional financial assistance from the Australian government to expand the scope of production as much as possible to promote and enhance organic crop production methods in Cambodia, as well as to increase exports.

Sakhon called on the company to make every effort to legally bring Cambodian labourers to work in Australian agriculture, train them and give them the valuable hands-on experience that they need to transform the Cambodian sector into a prosperous situation, a process which he stressed the ministry would be keen to help guide.

Cambodia exported more than 13 million tonnes of agricultural products last year, valued at more than $3.4 billion, according to ministry data.