AKP

The Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries Minister issued a clarification following a report by The Nation Thailand on Cambodia’s rice production growth in 2025, which the ministry misrepresented the findings of the USDA Rice Outlook for February.

Undersecretary of State at the ministry Khim Finan said the Thai media report had attributed Cambodia’s rice production growth to the use of “chemical fertiliser” and “hybrid rice varieties”, which was not what the USDA assessment had said.

Finan said Cambodia’s rice production growth was not driven by the use of more fertiliser. Cambodia’s rice production increased by about a million tonnes in 2025, primarily due to expanded cultivation areas, improved farming techniques and pest management, favourable rainfall distribution, and effective mitigation of climate impacts.

Official data indicated that Cambodia’s fertiliser imports declined slightly in 2025, confirming that production growth is not linked to increased use of chemical inputs, said the spokesman.

He said Cambodia does not adopt hybrid rice varieties, noting that the country’s agricultural development continues to rely on long-established, improved non-hybrid rice varieties.

Finan said the misleading reported could create a negative perception of agricultural practices in the country and harm Cambodian farmers.

Published Date: February 28, 2026