PM pushes for agricultural diversification
PM pushes for agricultural diversification
Prime Minister Hun Manet yesterday called for efforts to promote agricultural products, especially through diversification, for the betterment of farmers’ livelihoods.
Attending a celebration to mark the 19th National Fish Day in Kampong Cham province on Monday, the Prime Minister asked all stakeholders to increase quality control, safety and processing capacity and develop value chains for strengthening the competitiveness of Cambodian agricultural products for both domestic and foreign markets.
This will ensure food security, improve living standards, reduce poverty and sustain economic growth by maintaining a balance between suppliers and consumers, he said.
“We have to diversify agricultural products to ensure both food supplies and food security, promote farmers’ livelihoods and improve exports to foreign countries,” the Prime Minister said.
Mr Hun Manet stressed that the government continues to prioritize agriculture as a crucial sector, adding that to achieve this, the government has addressed the need to reduce the cost of production by reducing import duties on agricultural machinery and introducing other appropriate solutions.
The government has exempted agricultural products, including rice, corn, beans, pepper, cashew nuts, cassava and rubber from additional taxes, both for the domestic and export markets.
Cambodia not only ensured complete food security for people across the country but also increased the production of agricultural goods to export more, said Dith Tina, Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries.
Cambodia exported 8.82 million tonnes of agricultural products last year, earning nearly $5 billion, he said.
The main products exported by Cambodia included rice, bananas, mangoes, cassava, cashew nuts, corn, palm oil, pepper and tobacco.
Agriculture is one of the four pillars supporting Cambodia’s economy, besides industry and service sectors.
The Prime Minister also reiterated the commitment of the government of the 7th legislature to set a series of policies to help farmers and increase investments in agriculture.
The government has announced the implementation of a new strategy for agricultural development, aiming to upgrade it from household to commercial farming and enhance farmers’ income through value-added products.
Under this policy, the government deployed 250 agricultural officials (the number will be raised to over 1,300 by 2025) in communes nationwide to add expertise to the agricultural sector’s development.
The officials provide technical assistance to farmers, form agricultural cooperatives, link production chains and guide farmers to reduce production costs.
