Prime Minister Hun Sen yesterday called for research on high-yielding, climate-resilient rice seeds, and for increased technical assistance to farmers to help them produce high-quality rice that meets market demand.

Addressing the graduation ceremony of the Royal University of Agriculture, Prek Leap National Institute of Agriculture and Kampong Cham National School of Agriculture and senior government officials at Diamond Island Convention and Exhibition Center in the capital, the Premier said, “High-quality seeds and sufficient water irrigation are essential for high rice yields,” the Prime Minister said.

Mr Hun Sen called on the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries and relevant ministries and institutions to work closely together to research and develop high-quality, commercially viable seeds for farmers.

The premier advised relevant officials to continue zoning for appropriate agricultural crops and to offer technical assistance to farmers and agricultural cooperatives.

The Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries launched a new fragrance rice variety, Champei Sar 70 (CPS 70), on Wednesday after nearly a decade of research and development.

CPS 70 is a fragrant rice variety that matures after three months. It was developed from an award-winning Cambodian rice variety, Phka Rumduol, and CNi9024.

Global demand for fragrant rice is high, and it accounts for more than 60 percent of Cambodia’s total milled rice exports. The Kingdom aims to export 1 million tons of milled rice by 2025.

Cambodia’s rice cultivation in 2022 covered 3.40 million hectares and the total yield was 11.62 million tonnes.

The Kingdom exported 176,581 tons of milled rice in the first quarter of 2023, an increase of 3.5 percent from the same period in 2022, according to a report from the Cambodia Rice Federation.

Cambodia earned $126 million from milled rice exports in the first quarter of this year. It exported milled rice of different varieties, including premium aromatic rice, fragrant rice, long grain white rice, parboiled rice, and organic rice.

Agriculture is a major contributor to the Cambodian economy, accounting for nearly a quarter of GDP in 2021. It also employs over a third of workforce, with women making up more than half of those employed in agriculture.

Published Date: May 16, 2023