Cambodia launches cassava development project under China, UNDP support

Cambodia launched Tuesday the second phase of cassava development project under the support of China and the United Nations Development Program (UNDP). ... Cambodia and China signed a Protocol on the Exports of Cambodian Cassava to Chinese Market in December 2010, under which China allowed Cambodia to export its standardized cassava chips to China. Teng Lao said cassava is the second agricultural crop in Cambodia and plays a very important role in Cambodia's agriculture and economic development. He said last year, the country grew cassava crop on an area of 337,440 hectares, producing about 8 million tons of fresh cassava. "About 50 percent of fresh cassava, 40 percent of dry cassava and 10 percent of cassava powder were sold to Vietnam and Thailand, "he said."And Vietnam and Thailand re-sell those cassava products to international markets, particularly China." ... Setsuko Yamazaki, country director of UNDP to Cambodia, said that currently, Cambodian cassava farmers, processors and exporters are facing enormous constraints such as price distortions in neighboring countries, lack of information on price and quality criteria of importing markets and lack of access to technology. "Though cassava has become the second largest agricultural crop in term of income, employment, hectares cultivated and exports, there is very little technical assistance support provided to the sector,"she said. ...

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