Agriculture
Agricultural policy and administration
Heavy falls may mean improved rice harvest
Rainfall over the weekend, which caused flooding in 13 provinces, could improve crop yields for rice growers, provincial authorities say. Agricultural departments in Preah Vihear, Stung Treng, Kampong Thom and Battambang provinces – some of the worst hit on the weekend – all said water was ...
Hor Kimsay
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/business/heavy-falls-may-mean-improved-rice-harvest
Government rolls out new agriculture policy
The Ministry of Agriculture on Tuesday released a draft policy to strengthen the agriculture sector by educating farmers on how to gain greater access to markets and increase their productivity by using sustainable farming methods. The Agriculture Extension Policy, drafted in cooperation with USAID, aims to ...
Kang Sothear and George Styllis
http://www.cambodiadaily.com/business/government-rolls-out-new-agriculture-policy-65282/
Cambodia looks to put its rice on the world’s plate
For as long as Cambodian rice farmers can remember, their product has had an unsavory reputation. Tough, dirty and unmilled, it was impossible to cook evenly, and even farmers traded it as pig feed in exchange for cash or better-quality rice from Vietnam or Thailand. Even ...
Cambodia's rubber exports up 91 pct in H1
Cambodia has seen a 91 percent rise in dry rubber exports in the first half of 2014 as revenue from the exports increased only 3 percent due to global decline of rubber prices. During the January-June period this year, the country exported 42,190 tons of dry ...
ASEAN-China Center News Staff
http://www.asean-china-center.org/english/2014-07/29/c_133518119.htm
China pledges to buy 100,000 tons of rice from Cambodia
A Chinese company is preparing a memorandum of understanding with Ministry of Commerce (MOC) pledging to buy 100,000 tons of rice from Cambodia, according to Sun Chanthol, Minister of Commerce. The intention was made clear during a meeting between the Minister of Commerce and Song Xiaoguo, ...
The Cambodia Herald News Staff
http://www.thecambodiaherald.com/cambodia/detail/1?page=13&token=YTA3MzBlMTE0MTY
Price woes fuel corn farmers’ fears of lackluster sales
Corn farmers and dealers in the country’s northwestern provinces fear a decline in sales this season as local storage facilities become increasingly scarce and demand from Thai importers declines. Khun Thorn, president of Ta Sdar Samky Farmer Community in Battambang province, told the Post yesterday that ...
Chan Muyhong
http://phnompenhpost.com/business/price-woes-fuel-corn-farmers%E2%80%99-fears-lackluster-sales
ANZ Bank accused of abandoning farmers after splitting with sugar firm
Early this month, in what looks like a failed attempt to save its reputation, Australia‘s ANZ Bank severed its ties with Phnom Penh Sugar, a company accused of a range of human rights abuses linked to its plantations in Kampong Speu province, Cambodia. The move ...
Illegal fishing battle heats up
When authorities in Kampong Chhnang province on Friday encountered and pursued the boat of alleged illegal fisherman Chieb Ou, they couldn’t have expected to find themselves being chased instead. But that’s precisely what happened when, rather than surrendering, the 42-year-old suspect turned his boat towards the ...
Sen David
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/illegal-fishing-battle-heats
Italy demands ‘fairer’ rice deal
Italy has demanded that the European Union restrict Cambodia’s duty-free import status, as concerns over the survival of that country’s rice sector appear to be reaching a fever pitch. According to rice industry website Oryza, the Italian government has officially submitted a request to the EU ...
Eddie Morton
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/business/italy-demands-%E2%80%98fairer%E2%80%99-rice-deal
New Association seeks to improve rice market
Cambodian farmers are looking toward a new organization to help them get the best prices for their rice, but many are skeptical disparities between farmers and traders can be overcome. The Cambodian Rice Federation was started in May, bringing together disparate companies, associations and farmers in ...
Suy Heimkhemra
http://www.voacambodia.com/content/new-association-seeks-to-improve-rice-market/1957023.html
Cambodia must to strengthen its agriculture
Cambodia has accelerated its agricultural growth dramatically over the last several years, but agricultural sector in this developing country still depends on its neighboring countries. What are the reasons behind this dependence? During these past years, many businessmen, both foreign and local, are investing a large ...
The Cambodia Herald News Staff
http://www.thecambodiaherald.com/cambodia/detail/1?page=11&token=NjBhMmRmZDM0Yjg
Land concession woes aired
Village representatives in Ratanakkiri yesterday shared their land grievances with the European Union ambassador, requesting he relay to the government their appeal that no further 99-year land concessions be granted to private companies. Although the Post was not permitted to attend the full two-hour meeting, NGOs present at ...
Phak Seangly
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/land-concession-woes-aired
Italy millers slam ‘unfair’ EBA
Cambodia duty-free rice exports to the European Union have this week come under fresh attack from producers in Italy, who say the beneficial treatment is restricting the potential of Italian rice exports. An Italian agriculture collective of farmers, which includes representatives from the Italian Association of ...
Daniel de Carteret
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/business/italy-millers-slam-%E2%80%98unfair%E2%80%99-eba
As fish stocks vanish, locals flout law to survive
Khan Thea, a subsistence fisherman who lives and works along this sprawling, 7,000-hectare lake fed by the Mekong River, was not having a good day on the water. Struggling to net even a single fish, he finally resorted to a dangerous—and illegal—technique: fishing with electric current. ...
Phorn Bopha and Alex Consiglio
http://www.cambodiadaily.com/news/as-fish-stocks%E2%80%88vanish-locals-flout-law-to-survive-63567/
EU ban on Cambodian fish remains in place
More than one year after its fish products were banned from Europe, the industry and government has done little to ensure it will be lifted. The ban, instituted in early 2013, has hurt potential fish exports to a potentially lucrative trade partner. But EU officials say Cambodia ...
Suy Heimkhemra
http://www.voacambodia.com/content/eu-ban-on-cambodian-fish-remains-in-place/1952962.html
Companies warned over slow development of ELCs
Provincial government officials in Stung Treng have warned companies granted economic land concessions (ELCs) in the province to fulfil their promised development plans or face losing their rights to the land. Touch Thea, director of the Stung Treng provincial department of agriculture, said the call for ...
Chan Muyhong
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/business/companies-warned-over-slow-development-elcs
Rice export target a big task
The pace of Cambodia’s rice exports are expected to slow this year. Unable to maintain the steady rate of previous years, the export volume for the first half of 2014 is much the same as it was this time last year. At the end of June, ...
Hor Kimsay
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/business/rice-export-target-big-task
Puny plants perturb Kampot pepper producers
Kampot pepper farmers saw a bumper crop this year with harvest levels up more than 36 per cent, but rain shortages have diminished the producers’ chances of exporting their haul. According to Nguon Lay, president of the Kampot Pepper Promotion Association (KPPA), more than 30 tonnes ...
Chan Muyhong
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/business/puny-plants-perturb-kampot-pepper-producers
Acacia chip exports to receive tax break: PM
The tax imposed on the export of acacia chips is to be abolished to help boost exports of the locally grown raw product, Prime Minister Hun Sen announced on Monday. Speaking at the grand opening of Aeon Mall, Hun Sen said that acacia chips exported to ...
Chan Muyhong
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/business/acacia-chip-exports-receive-tax-break-pm
Fishers report rampant corruption, major depletion of fisheries
Representatives of fishing communities say illegal operations are critically threatening the nation’s fisheries. Corruption and collusion between authorities and illegal fishermen are at the root of the problem, they say. More than 100 representatives from these communities met in Phnom Penh Friday, in an effort to find ...
Khoun Theara
http://www.voacambodia.com/content/fishers-report-rampant-corruption-major-depletion-of-fisheries/1946303.html
Fines called for in case against Khmer Krom
An ongoing land dispute may become more than just an embittered ordeal for three Khmer Krom villagers after officials requested yesterday that a Takeo court levy them huge fines. According to representatives from Borei Choslar district’s Sangkum Meanchey village, they are only farming barren land that ...
Sen David
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/national/fines-called-case-against-khmer-krom
India’s rice dump may impact local exports
With the Indian government set to inject five million tonnes of rice in to its domestic market, Cambodia’s rice producers fear that any spillover into the global rice trade may impact local exports. David Van, acting secretary-general of a newly established Cambodia Rice Federation, said ...
May Kunmakara
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/business/india%E2%80%99s-rice-dump-may-impact-local-exports
Feed plant in Pailin to aid farmers’ stockpiles
Pailin province’s $5 million animal-feed processing plant and warehouse is to finish construction in the next three months and it is a welcomed development for the local farming community. The plant’s owner, Chea Kea, who also owns Diamond Crown casino on the border with Thailand in ...
Chan Muyhong
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/business/feed-plant-pailin-aid-farmers%E2%80%99-stockpiles
Rice piles up as exports slow
Lagging demand from foreign buyers has led to Cambodian rice being stockpiled at the country’s mills, according to the head of the country’s peak rice body. Sok Puthyvuth, president of the Cambodia Rice Federation (CRF), said that with exporters receiving fewer orders, the country’s larger rice ...
Hor Kimsay
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/business/rice-piles-exports-slow