Agriculture
Agricultural policy and administration
‘Angkor Malis’ brand name yet to satisfy
With the Cambodian Rice Federation (CRF) ready to adopt “Angkor Malis” in June as the official brand name for the Kingdom’s premium varieties of jasmine rice, exporters said that inconsistent English to Khmer translations need to be corrected. ...
Cheng Sokhorng
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/business/angkor-malis-brand-name-yet-satisfy
Illegal rice imports still pouring across border
More than a month has elapsed since the government vowed to strengthen its borders to halt illegal imports of rice, yet little has been done to stem the flow of illicit rice shipments flooding into Cambodia from its foreign neighbours and undermining the export efforts ...
Cheng Sokhorng
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/business/illegal-rice-imports-still-pouring-across-border
CRF to register ‘Angkor Malis’ brand and logo
The Cambodian Rice Federation (CRF) will officially register the name “Angkor Malis” in June as the umbrella brand for the Kingdom’s premium varieties of fragrant rice, a representative said yesterday. ...
Post Staff
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/business/crf-register-angkor-malis-brand-and-logo
Spinning straw into food security
An American horticulturalist is in Cambodia providing training in a unique farming method that proponents believe can improve food security in some of the country’s remotest regions. ...
Brent Crane
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/spinning-straw-food-security
Government lifts decade-old Snakehead fish farming ban
The government has lifted a decade-old ban on snakehead fish farming following a request from the Ministry of Agriculture last month to once again allow farmers to breed the voracious fish, according to a statement dated Thursday. ...
Aun Pheap
https://www.cambodiadaily.com/news/government-lifts-decade-old-snakehead-fish-farming-ban-112009/
Gov’t waives VAT to support rice millers
Agricultural products have been granted an exemption from the value-added tax (VAT) as part of a government effort to support local rice farmers and millers, according to a prakas issued Wednesday by the General Taxation Department. ...
Post Staff
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/business/govt-waives-vat-support-rice-millers
Changes rolled out to prop up rice sector
The government took steps to shore up the rice sector yesterday, saying it would remove the current value added tax [VAT] on milling machines in the country and shut down companies importing rice from neighboring countries and rebranding it as Cambodian during an emergency meeting ...
Sok chan
http://www.khmertimeskh.com/news/23419/changes-rolled-out-to-prop-up-rice-sector/
Cambodia asks China to import more products
Prime Minister Hun Sen has asked China to import more agricultural products from Cambodia to boost bilateral trade and strengthen the relationship between the two countries. The prime minister wants to boost bilateral trade to $5 billion by 2017. ...
Chea Vannak
http://www.khmertimeskh.com/news/23185/cambodia-asks-china-to-import-more-products/
Thai company to build $30 million factory
One of Thailand’s leading agricultural groups and a major producer of animal feed will build a $30 million factory in the Phnom Penh Special Economic Zone, company officials announced last week. ...
Sok Chan
http://www.khmertimeskh.com/news/22973/thai-company-to-build--30-million-factory/
Taskforce to weigh measures for rice sector’s future
The Commerce Ministry has created a special taskforce to study challenges threatening the sustainability of the nation’s rice industry and will report its findings within two weeks, a ministry official said yesterday. ...
Cheng Sokhorng
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/business/taskforce-weigh-measures-rice-sectors-future
Federation mulls supporting rice export price
The Cambodia Rice Federation (CRF) on Thursday met with the Ministry of Commerce to discuss policies for strengthening the country’s ailing rice industry, and unveiled a plan to develop a price-support mechanism to guarantee Cambodia’s rice export price, officials said. ...
Kang Sothear
https://www.cambodiadaily.com/news/federation-mulls-supporting-rice-export-price-110081/
Empowering women in Cambodia’s farming sector
Cambodian women play an important role in the agricultural sector, especially as the nation’s economic conditions continue to force many men to seek work overseas, according to experts. ...
Hean Socheata
http://www.voacambodia.com/content/empowering-women-in-cambodia-farming-sector/3232287.html
Under fire, rice federation vows action
A week after an alliance of millers and exporters criticized the Cambodia Rice Federation (CRF) for its inaction in the face of the sector’s possible collapse, the federation Wednesday announced the formation of a new task force to manage challenges facing its members. ...
Kang Sothear
https://www.cambodiadaily.com/news/under-fire-rice-federation-vows-action-109691/
Rice body steps up to the plate
Responding to criticism, Cambodia’s apex rice industry body announced yesterday that it would submit a plan to Prime Minister Hun Sen that addresses two of the major challenges facing the Kingdom’s rice sector – competition from rice imports and access to finance for millers. ...
Cheng Sokhorng
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/business/rice-body-steps-plate
Cambodian farmers ‘undermined by flood of imports’
Vegetables, fruit and other food products imported from neighboring countries are undermining domestic agricultural production and steps need to be taken to assist the industry here, a forum was told yesterday. ...
Chea Vannak
http://www.khmertimeskh.com/news/22538/cambodian-farmers----undermined-by-flood-of-imports---/
Ministry says arsenic levels in rice 'no problem'
The Ministry of Agriculture has played down the results of a study that found high levels of arsenic in some samples of locally grown rice. ...
Jack Davies
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/ministry-says-arsenic-levels-rice-no-problem
Agro sector on a growth path
The tonnage of Cambodia’s agricultural exports increased by over 20 per cent last year, led by a surge in shipments of dried cassava chips, according to the latest Ministry of Agriculture data. ...
Cheng Sokhorng
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/business/agro-sector-growth-path
ANZ still owes villagers over sugar loan: Oxfam
Australian banking giant ANZ has come under fire for its response to a scandal over its financing of a sugar plantation previously linked to forced evictions and child labour in Kampong Speu province. ...
Charles Rollet
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/anz-still-owes-villagers-over-sugar-loan-oxfam
Veggie farming to trim kingdom’s import bill
Government officials, economists and businesses discussed the implementation of a draft program to invigorate vegetable farming in the Kingdom and cut imports from neighbouring countries in half by 2018. ...
Ayanna Runcie
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/business/veggie-farming-trim-kingdoms-import-bill
Sugar plantation burns in Svay Rieng province
A fire burned through 45 hectares of sugarcane plantation belonging to three companies in Svay Rieng province’s Svay Tiep district on Tuesday, with one company representative suspecting that the fire was intentionally set. ...
Khouth Sophak Chakrya
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/sugar-plantation-burns-svay-rieng-province
Agricultural experts say Cambodia would benefit from organic certifications
Cambodian agricultural experts are suggesting a national standard for organic products.Cambodian farmers are increasingly growing organic rice and vegetables in some places, but there is no official certification available. ...
Hul Reaksmey
http://www.voacambodia.com/content/agricultural-experts-say-cambodia-would-benefit-from-organic-certifications/3130402.html
Giant sugar mill set to open in Preah Vihear
A Chinese-owned agricultural company will inaugurate a $360 million sugar mill in northern Cambodia next month, in what is being billed as one of Asia’s largest sugar processing facilities. ...
Cheng Sokhorng
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/business/giant-sugar-mill-set-open-preah-vihear
Commerce minister proposes ‘extra premium’ rice brand
At the close of the three-day annual Cambodia Rice Forum, Commerce Minister Sun Chanthol on Tuesday suggested that the first-rate rice brand set to be launched on the international market this year be marketed as “Extra Premium” jasmine rice. ...
Kang Sothear
https://www.cambodiadaily.com/news/commerce-minister-proposes-extra-premium-rice-brand-106528/
Hun Sen laments impact of foreign competition in rice sector
Cambodia’s rice industry faces a plethora of challenges—both internal and external—that have led to low prices and prevented exporters from achieving a lofty tonnage target set by the government in 2010, Prime Minister Hun Sen said on Monday. ...
Kang Sothear and Anthony Jensen
https://www.cambodiadaily.com/news/hun-sen-laments-impact-of-foreign-competition-in-rice-sector-106387/