Corn prices to rise with new Thai policy
Cambodian officials in provinces bordering Thailand said the price of Cambodian corn would increase as a result of a reduced supply and a new Thai government policy of importing more corn for animal processing. The Bangkok Post reported on Tuesday that the Thai cabinet approved the import of 450,000 tonnes of tariff-free maize from Cambodia and Laos. Cambodian farmers, however, greeted the new policy warily, expressing doubts as to the effectiveness of the price raise. … According to a report by the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, Cambodian farmers planted 184,872 hectares of corn across the country and cultivated about 770,860 tonnes of corn in 2012, with Battambang, Preah Vihear, Kandal, Kampong Cham, Pailin, Banteay Meanchey and Pursat provinces leading in production. … Data from the Ministry of Commerce showed that Cambodia’s total corn exports dropped 42.21 per cent to 20,443.66 tonnes in 2012 from 35,381.63 tonnes in 2011.
