Logo of Phnom Penh Post newspaper Phnom Penh Post - Oddar Meanchey: Investors sought to diversify crops

Oddar Meanchey: Investors sought to diversify crops

Content image - Phnom Penh Post
Oddar Meanchey provincial governor Pen Kosal was speaking at an annual meeting held on March 21 to review the province’s past achievements and set future directions. Heng Chivoan

Oddar Meanchey: Investors sought to diversify crops

The climate and soil conditions of Oddar Meanchey province are favourable for the cultivation of paddy rice, but provincial leaders see no reason why the province cannot diversify and introduce other crops. To that end, they intend to seek investors who will develop the province’s agricultural sector.

Speaking at an annual meeting held on March 21 to review the province’s past achievements and set future directions, governor Pen Kosal said this will not only help boost the local economy but will also reduce migration.

‘Lead the country’

Kosal said the province’s economy depends on three main areas: agriculture, mining and tourism.

Agriculture focuses on rubber, rice, bananas, cashew nuts, cassava, and mangoes of the Keo Romiet variety, while mining centres around gold, gemstones, lead and coal. The province’s tourism industry includes eco-tourism, cultural tourism and 14 historical heritage sites.

“To promote the agricultural sector, in the past the provincial administration has organised various business clusters such as cassava, melons, yellow watermelon, Keo Romiet mango, vegetables and rice,” he said.

“Currently, we lead the country’s cultivation and supply of yellow watermelon, orange watermelon and melons, as well as yellow bananas, which are grown on a total area of 8,046ha throughout the province. They are harvested continuously to supply the domestic market, as well as for export,” he added.

The governor said the current goal is to attract investors and development partners who will finance processing facilities.

“This will enable us to improve the quality of our produce. This in turn will help the provincial economy to grow, and reduce net migration,” he said.

New techniques

Sot Sisokheang, director of the provincial Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, said the provincial administration has facilitated contracts with wholesalers inside

and outside of Oddar Meanchey in order to secure consistent prices, and unlock the potential of the province’s crops.

“In addition to mobilising investors, the department will also focus on encouraging people to adopt new techniques to increase the cultivation of new crops. This will contribute to the government’s plans for poverty reduction,” he said.

According to a report by the provincial administration, Oddar Meanchey has a total area of 6,840.91sq km, which is divided into Samrong town and four districts, 24 communes and 308 villages with a total of 64,656 households.

As of March this year, 95,000ha of rice fields had been harvested, yielding 262,690 tonnes, with an average growth rate of 8.12 per cent per year. In 2022, the average growth of surplus rice was 11.34 per cent.

In addition to paddy rice, other agro-industrial crops also increased significantly. Cassava reached 70,860ha, an increase of 21.06 per cent. Cashew cultivation was 18,382ha, up 105.40 per cent.

MOST VIEWED

  • Five-year-old Hanuman dances his way into hearts of Cambodia

    A young talent from a new-established settlement has emerged, captivating the online world with his mesmerising performances of the traditional Cambodian monkey dance. Roeun Kakada is a five-year-old prodigy who has taken the social media sphere by storm with his exceptional dance skills and dedication

  • Fresh Covid warnings as Thai hospital fills

    A senior health official reminds the public to remain vigilant, as neighbouring countries experience an increase in Covid-19 cases, with the latest surge appearing to be a result of the Omicron XBB.1.5 sub-variant. Or Vandine, secretary of state and spokeswoman for the Ministry of Health,

  • Honda shutters Siem Reap football club

    Japanese football legend Keisuke Honda, the owner of Siem Reap football club Soltilo Angkor FC, has been forced to shut the club down, after it failed to attract sponsorship for the upcoming season. Honda, the former manager of the Cambodia men's national football team, said

  • Hun Sen warns of regional tensions

    ASIA is becoming a dangerous geopolitical hotspot, with several countries announcing that they intend to send naval vessels towards Southeast Asia and on to the South China Sea, warned Prime Minister Hun Sen. “Heated geopolitical issues can easily escalate, namely to war. I am not

  • PM declares ASEAN Para Games open

    The 12th ASEAN Para Games officially kicked off on the evening of June 3 at Morodok Techo National Stadium in Phnom Penh, with a spectacular opening ceremony featuring fireworks and performances by some of the Kingdom’s most accomplished talents. Tens of thousands of sports fans

  • Waterway job still pending for Kampot tourism port’s opening

    The search is still on for a contractor to expand and deepen the Kampot International Tourism Port’s waterway and deliver additional enhancements allowing safe access for larger vessels, nearly a year after the main construction work on the 4.25ha site was completed on June 30, 2022.