MAFF pushes for durian exports to China
MAFF pushes for durian exports to China
The Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF) is exploring the possibility to ink an Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Beijing to export Cambodian durian to China. Durian sellers and growers across the country are sanguine that they will be earn more if the proposal of durian exports to Chinese market materializes.
Durian is a tropical fruit known for its large size, thorn-covered husk and distinctive smell, which is otherwise referred to “king of fruits” in parts of the world.
Khim Finan, Undersecretary of State and spokesman for the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, told Khmer Times yesterday that ministry has been pursuing the negotiation of exporting Cambodian durian to China.
“Regarding the export of durian to China, it is still in the negotiation stage. We negotiated with many crops before, in which the Cambodian fresh coconut was allowed to be exported to China, but what are still waiting are durian, pineapple and jackfruit,” said Finan.
The procedures for signing an MoU on the export of these Cambodian fruits are extensive because the negotiation terms or conditions of each crop are separate.
When asked if an MoU on durian exports to China could be signed this year, Finan said, “We hope so. But things are not on our side (Cambodia) alone. It is not strange that the sanitary and phytosanitary measures (SPS) negotiations take many years, because in the past we have also seen that some crop is taking at least a year, and some crops can take up from two to three years.”
Generally, we always try to find markets for only strategic agricultural products that serve to export and have high added cost. In principle, Cambodia has SPS agreement with Thailand and Vietnam, and recently Cambodian durian was exported to Thailand, but Finan did not have any data because it belongs to a private company.
Most durians are planted in Battambang, Kampot, Pursat and parts of Kampong Cham, Tbong Khmum and also some parts of Koh Kong and Ratanakkiri provinces.
Khim Bunlene, a durian seller and grower in Kampot province, told Khmer Times that he has met with many durian growers and most of them want a formal and legal market opening for Cambodia durian to abroad, especially they want to export to Chinese market.
“If Cambodia can open the market by exporting our durian to the Chinese market, it will give more confidence to farmers here,” said Bunlene, adding, “Opening the market directly to China is the most important thing for durian growers.”
He said that the exporting Cambodian durian directly to Chinese market will get a lot of benefit, including ensuring a good market and price for farmers, attract more investors, get direct local income, create more jobs for Cambodians, as well as state tax revenue. Opening the market to China is very profitable.
