FAO Raises Paddy Production Outlook
The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) has raised its forecast of global paddy production in 2012 by about 1.5 million tonnes to 730 million tonnes (487 million tonnes, milled). … The scaling up of production mainly concerned Asian countries, in particular Cambodia, Indonesia, Thailand and Viet Nam, but also western African States, such as Guinea, Mali and Senegal. … Cambodian milled rice is becoming more popular throughout Asia, particularly in Malaysia, which is the number one importer of milled rice from the Kingdom. … Hean Vanhorn, deputy director-general of the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries and director of the single-window secretariat for facilitating milled rice exports, said though Malaysia ranked highest for milled rice exports, Cambodian could further capitalise on Malaysian demand for fragrant rice. … But Cambodia also still faces challenges in managing the use of different seeds grown in different areas, he said, adding that officials could not always control the quantity of these unspecified seeds. … The Cambodian government is targeting to increase rice exports to 1 million tons by 2015, and is investing in rice processing facilities and providing credits to farmers. …
