Farmers urged to cultivate varieties of fragrant rice
Farmers urged to cultivate varieties of fragrant rice
The Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries has encouraged farmers to cultivate rice varieties of fragrant rice seeds which command higher market prices, citing that this aims to boost farmers’ incomes and enhance Cambodia’s agricultural exports.
Fragrant rice of Romduol and Sen Kro Ob are renowned for their distinct flavours and aromas, making them in high demand by both domestic and international consumers.
The Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries will help coordinate with local mills to collect rice on time according to market demand and reasonable prices, said its Secretary of State Yang Saing Kumar.
“The use of well-sourced rice seeds can help improve production,” he said.
By focusing on these varieties, farmers can tap into profitable markets and improve their livelihoods, he said.
The rice is delicious and fragrant and is very popular in international markets as well, he said.
Cambodia exported 379,546 tonnes of milled rice in the first seven months of this year, up 4.6 percent from 362,708 tonnes in the same period last year, said a report from the Cambodian Rice Federation.
Exported rice varieties included fragrant rice, long-grain white rice, parboiled rice and organic rice, the report stated, citing that fragrant rice accounted for 70.5 percent of the total exports.
Focusing on the quality of fragrant rice with purified rice varieties will make Cambodia gain more market rice in the foreign markets, said Song Saran, CEO of Amru Rice (Cambodia), a leading rice exporting firm.
“The focus on high-quality fragrant rice varieties positions Cambodia competitively in the global market,” Saran said.
With a combination of favourable market conditions, a focus on quality, and a commitment to sustainability, Cambodia is well-positioned to achieve its ambitious rice export goals, he said.
According to the Ministry of Agriculture, Cambodia has 3.54 million hectares of rice fields, producing an annual yield of 12.49 million tonnes of paddy rice.
CRF has now set a goal to export at least a million tonnes of milled rice by 2025.
