Sales of palm sugar not so sweet
Sales of Cambodia’s World Trade Organization-certified palm sugar from Kampong Speu province dipped to 12 tonnes at the end of the harvest season this year, about a 30 per cent decline from 2012. Two districts with palm trees in Kampong Speu province were granted geographical indication (GI) status in 2010 under the WTO’s agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights. Having the certification sets certain standards for production and raises the global profile of the brand. … The two major products are palm sugar powder and palm sugar block. GI powder prices this year stood at 6,000 riel per kilogram, up from 4,500 riel in 2012. Palm sugar block rose to 4,000 riel per kilogram from 3,500 in the period last year. For many farmers in the association, palm sugar production is a second job behind rice farming. The Palm Sugar Promotion Association currently consists of 142 members in Oudong and Samrong Tong districts, down from 172 members last year. …
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/business/sales-palm-sugar-not-so-sweet
