CRF president Chan Sokheang signed an MoU with Yuk Sokun Sreyrath, Director of the National Laboratory of Science and Technology, on March 26, 2024. CRF
The Cambodia Rice Federation (CRF), the nation’s apex rice industry body, has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the National Laboratory of Science, Technology and Innovation (STI), aiming to enhance cooperation in providing consultancy and experimental services to the rice sector, particularly to improve the quality of milled rice for export to international markets.
The agreement was formalised on March 25 at the Koh Pich Convention and Exhibition Centre during the 2nd National Day of STI.
CRF president Chan Sokheang explained on March 26 that the MoU’s objective is to foster cooperation in offering consultancy and novel services to the sector.
He mentioned that besides the agreement between the two entities, the collaboration is also part of joint efforts to enhance experimental capabilities in line with sustainable export production requirements.
Sokheang noted that the two institutions would cooperate on experiments and testing of pesticides before international market distribution.
He said the federation previously predominantly worked with laboratories in Germany, Thailand and Vietnam, but now is shifting its focus to support local laboratories.
“We will endeavour to collaborate, as our national lab needs to improve both its capacity and recognition to prevent doubts. This MoU is about promoting our national institutions,” he stated.
Sokheang mentioned that previously, Cambodia’s milled rice exports were found by European buyers to contain an excess of chemicals.
“We began to detect excessive pesticide residues because some of our farmers were using [the products] beyond the technical level of consumption, particularly at the end of 2023 and the beginning of 2024. However, this excess is only one per cent, meaning it’s not in all milled rice. This is due to the overuse of pesticides in certain areas,” he added.
According to Sokheang, the federation is working with the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries to educate farmers on sustainable paddy rice cultivation.
He said the initiative is geared towards ensuring sustainable rice exports to international markets, especially the EU, starting this year.
Minister of Industry, Science, Technology and Innovation Hem Vanndy, highlighting the importance of the MoU, expressed his hope that it would enhance the productivity of private enterprises in the production chain, thereby increasing efficiency and adding value.
“Aligned with the principle that the development of science and technology in the National Laboratory must be founded on innovation, any new technology or equipment should be directed towards practical application in the private sector,” he stated.
According to the CRF, Cambodia exported 90,153 tonnes of milled rice in the first two months of 2024, facilitated by 40 milled rice exporters to 50 countries and territories worldwide.
Of these, 51,333 tonnes of milled rice were sent to 22 EU countries, valued at $38.37 million; 18,753 tonnes, worth $13.36 million, were exported to five ASEAN countries and Timor-Leste; 11,083 tonnes, valued at $6.81 million, were shipped to mainland China, Hong Kong and Macau; and 8,984 tonnes, worth $6.90 million, reached 13 other destinations, including Africa, the Middle East, the US, Canada, Australia and New Zealand.
