Cambodia’s foodgrain production touches 39.4M tonnes
Cambodia’s foodgrain production touches 39.4M tonnes
Cambodia’s foodgrain production reached 39.4 million tonnes in 2024, of which 12 million tonnes were exported to 95 countries earning approximately $5.3 billion, said the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF) on Wednesday.
Announcing this during the closing annual conference on the ‘Summary Results of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Nationwide in 2024 and the Implement Direction for 2025’, Minister of MAFF Dith Tina highlighted that crops are a sub-sector of agriculture, contributing to the largest share of total agricultural products which accounted for 61 percent in 2024.
Along with Tina, Sok Chenda Sophea, Deputy Prime Minister, also presided over the closing annual conference.
The MAFF minister said, “Despite challenges such as insects and climate changes, this sub-sector produced about 39.4 million tonnes, an increase of 2.59 million tonnes compared to 2023.”
Tina further said that paddy production reached 13.89 million tonnes, enabling the Kingdom to fully secure its food supply while exporting 8.2 million tonnes of both paddy and rice overseas.
Meanwhile, the rice production alone increased by 1.4 million tonnes in 2023.
The MAFF Minister emphasised that with a large volume of agricultural products, Cambodia exported 12 million tonnes of all crops to 95 countries, marking an increase of over 3 million tonnes and generating a $5.3 billion budget.
“Additionally, Phkar Romdoul rice reached new heights by winning the World’s Best Rice Award for the sixth time at a competition in the Philippines, and the Fragrant rice received the gold award from China,” he noted.
Deputy Prime Minister Sophea lauded the achievements and strong cooperation between civil servants, the private sector, provincial authorities and stakeholders in the agriculture sector. He suggested six recommendations to further augment agricultural productivity.
First, promote the action plan and effectively implement the policies of the Royal Government of Cambodia (RGC) to ensure food security, economic growth and environmental sustainability.
Second, he requested MAFF and relevant institutions to expand markets, promote processing for higher value, and export to larger markets while establishing agro-industrial parks to address congestion and strengthen linkages.
Third, encourage local banks to offer low-interest loans to the capital-limited agricultural sector and strengthen connections within the value chain.
Fourth, develop a policy for domestic organic fertiliser production, following Prime Minister Hun Manet’s guidance, to maintain soil quality and enhance farmers’ income.
Fifth, use all resources to suppress fisheries, forests, and wildlife crimes.
Finally, strengthen cooperation to accelerate the registration of state land, forest land, and flooded forests.
Sophea also praised the MAFF Minister’s leadership for aligning with RGC policies, ensuring food security, economic growth and improved livelihoods. He stressed the importance of implementing realistic strategies to achieve the vision of becoming a middle-income country by 2030 and a high-income country by 2050.
Cham Nimul, Minister of Commerce (MoC), Thor Chetha, Minister of Water Resources and Meteorology (MOWRAM), Chhay Rithisen, Minister of Rural Development (MRD), Ouk Rabun, Senior Minister and Chairman of the Council for Agricultural and Rural Development (CARD), and Kao Thach, the Royal Government Delegate in charge as Director General and also a member of the Board Director of the Rural Development Bank (ARDB) were present on the occasion.
