A senior official from the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries has called on farmers to select Phka Rumduol jasmine rice and Sen Kra’op fragrant rice for their crops, noting that there is high market demand for the milled rice of both varieties.
“On behalf of the ministry, I would like to advise farmers to choose our national rice seeds, Phka Rumduol jasmine and Sen Kra’op fragrant rice.
“Phka Rumduol and Sen Kra’op are both in high demand, especially by local rice mills. Companies need these strains to meet export orders, so demand is high. This means farmers can sell these kinds of rice for a reasonable price, which is stable,” said ministry secretary of state Yang Saing Koma, in an August 31 video which was shared to the ministry’s social media channels.
He explained that the ministry will support farmers who produce these two kinds of rice by facilitating smooth cooperation between rice mills and local companies. This meant they would buy the rice in timely manner, and pay a fair price.
Cambodian Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Sok Chenda Sophea and his Philippine counterpart Enrique Manalo met in the Philippines in late August.
The two sides acknowledged the vast potential and opportunities for trade between them and agreed to increase trade and investment through encouraging business-to-business contacts, as well as organising trade fairs.
“They also discussed ways to boost trade in rice and other commodities and develop agricultural businesses,” said the Cambodian foreign ministry, in a press release.
According to the Cambodia Rice Federation (CRF), in 2023, Cambodia exported a total of 656,323 tonnes of milled rice to international markets, an increase of 3% compared to 2022, with the money earned amounting to $466 million, an increase of 13%. It said during the year, Cambodian milled rice was exported to 61 countries and territories through 63 exporters.
According to a report by the General Department of Customs and Excise of Cambodia (GDCE), in the first seven months of 2024,Cambodia’s exports exceeded$14 billion, up 14 percent when compared to the same period in 2023.