Officials urged to help farmers calculate production cost

Officials urged to help farmers calculate production cost

It will help farmers keep the cost factor in mind at every stage of production, and help achieve success in farming.

Lor Reaksmey, Undersecretary of State at the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF) Monday urged agriculture officials to help farmers in the country in calculating their production cost, which will enable them to create a successful business model.

Speaking at an event held to commence the training programme for nearly 60 municipal agricultural officials in Banteay Meanchey province, Reaksmey said, “It is important for agricultural officers to help farmers in growing their crops. And I must emphasise that farmers need expert advice in terms of calculating the cost of production. This will help them to keep the cost factor in mind at every stage of production, helping to achieve success in farming while reaping benefits for their hard work.”

Production cost for farmers refers to the total expenses incurred in the process of growing crops or raising livestock, encompassing direct as well as indirect costs. These costs can be categorised into fixed costs, which include land taxes and depreciation while variable costs consist of expenses incurred towards seeds, fertilisers and labour.

According to Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO) experts, understanding and managing these costs is crucial for profitability and informed decision-making in agricultural operations.

He said agricultural officials must put in their best efforts in their respective target municipalities with the objective of achieving higher levels of production along with increasing income for farmers.

Reaksmey said the ongoing training for the agricultural officials mainly focuses on the use of appropriate fertilisers as well as implementing advanced agricultural technologies. “The ministry would like to have a special focus on increasing rice production in the province, and the officers should devise strategies to increase the rice yield so that it turns into a successful business model for farmers.”

He said that one of the primary objectives of agricultural policies has been to reduce the cost to farmers in terms of cultivating various agricultural crops.

khmertimeskh