Rice industry caught in flux

30 May 2014
The Phnom Penh Post
Agricultural commodities, processing and products / Agricultural policy and administration / Agricultural production / Agriculture and fishing / Crop products and commodities / Economic policy and administration / Economy and commerce / Exports / Government / Rice / Trade
General department of agriculture / Hean Vanhorn / Heng Heng Rice Miller / Hun Lak / Mekong Oryaza Trade / Vong Bunheng

The rice industry’s quest for greater quality at lower cost reached a dead end yesterday at a conference in Phnom Penh, with exporters and farmers polarised on how to achieve greater returns for the industry. The workshop, titled “Improving Rice Value Chain and Enhancing Farmers’ Livelihoods”, was attended by more than 70 farmer representatives, businesses and government officials. On one side exporters want farmers to provide a better-quality rice grain, but on the other, farmers cannot afford the premium to pay for the higher-quality seed. Hun Lak, president of rice exporter Mekong Oryaza Trade, urged farmers to be more selective when choosing their seeds to produce better-quality rice. …

 Chan Muyhong
http://www.phnompenhpost.com/business/rice-industry-caught-flux