Youn Sreyti / Khmer Times

Kampong Thom Provincial Governor Noun Pharath has urged all rice traders and rice mill owners in the province to buy rice from farmers at fair and reasonable prices, discouraging the practice of excessively lowering prices during the harvest season.

Pharath made the appeal while presiding over a meeting with rice buyers and mill operators on rice procurement measures aimed at maintaining price stability and preventing market congestion during the harvest period. The meeting took place at the provincial hall yesterday, according to the Kampong Thom Provincial Administration.

He said that the issue of falling rice prices is a common concern affecting farmers, traders, millers, and local authorities alike, urging all stakeholders to collaborate in finding timely and effective solutions to support farmers and minimise their financial burden.

“We must work together to ensure stable rice prices and support our farmers, who are the backbone of the agricultural economy,” Pharath said, emphasising the importance of joint efforts to sustain the province’s agricultural development.

Although the current rice harvest remains limited compared to the total cultivated area, Pharath instructed the administrations of the province’s nine cities and districts to continue working closely with farmers to understand their economic challenges and provide timely support measures.

Pharath expressed gratitude to the provincial and local authorities for maintaining public order and security during recent major events, including the Water Festival celebrations and the National Independence Day, and urged them to continue prioritising the needs of citizens in future operations.

The Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF) on 9 November convened an inter-ministerial meeting to strengthen Cambodia’s agricultural value chain and boost cooperation between the public and private sectors under the “Dynamic Stakeholder System” approach.

The meeting was chaired by Dith Tina, Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF), and attended by Hem Vanndy, Minister of Industry, Science, Technology and Innovation (MISTI); Cham Nimul, Minister of Commerce (MoC); and Chou Vichith, Permanent Secretary of State at the Ministry of Economy and Finance (MEF).

The officials discussed strategies to enhance the capacity of local enterprises to process domestically produced agricultural goods and broaden market access for farmers.

In a related development, the Royal Government of Cambodia (RGC) announced on Saturday the release of an extra $40 million through the Agricultural and Rural Development Bank (ARDB) to stabilise paddy prices amid recent declines.

Prime Minister Hun Manet shared on his social media that the fund is intended to support farmers during the current harvest season, following a decline in paddy prices to as low as 600 riels per kilogram in some provinces.

Published Date: November 11, 2025