Kingdom, Sri Lanka firm up ties to boost rice, agri sectors

Kingdom, Sri Lanka firm up ties to boost rice, agri sectors

Both sides explore opportunities to expand collaboration in high-value agricultural products and agri-food industries.

Cambodia and Sri Lanka have reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening cooperation in the rice sector and broader agricultural development, according to Sri Lankan media reports released yesterday.

The renewed pledge follows a recent meeting in Phnom Penh between a Sri Lankan trade delegation and Prak David, Secretary of State at Cambodia’s Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF).

During the discussions, both sides explored opportunities to expand collaboration in high-value agricultural products and agri-food industries.

A key focus of the talks was premium rice varieties, including Cambodia’s internationally recognised Phka Rumduol rice, which has won multiple global awards for quality.

The delegation also discussed cooperation in cashew production, an area where Cambodia ranks third worldwide, supported by its high-yield M23 cashew variety.

Agrifood processing was highlighted as another promising sector, with Cambodia offering strong government backing to support future expansion.

The two countries are already partners in the regional ‘Seeds without Borders’ initiative, facilitated by the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI), Manila.

Agricultural cooperation between Cambodia and Sri Lanka has steadily grown over recent years, reflecting shared priorities in food security and sustainable farming.

Both countries also collaborated under the FAO-China South-South Cooperation project, which concluded in late 2023.

khmertimeskh