Cambodia Agriculture Sector

A Leading Sector

Agriculture sector is the leading amongst other sector such as construction, tourist, garment and textile. Agriculture takes 30% of GDP growth in Cambodia.

• First Priority for Country Development

Since 80.5% of population is farmer, Cambodian government set agriculture is the priority for development.

• • At least export 1 million tons of rice by 2015
  • Rice millers association and rice export association has set up
  • Import and export barriers were identified and eliminating
  • No import tax for agricultural products
  • Farmer associations, rice production cooperation is setting up and increasing

• Technical know-how in agriculture is providing by development partners and government agencies

  • Skills training especially in agricultural related skills are equipping to farmers in order to increase their cropping activities and increase yield and products quality
  • Develop appropriate legal and regulatory tools and law-enforcement capacity for the monitoring and control of agricultural inputs and the management of soil and soil fertility (e.g., an example of a legal tool is the Law on Agricultural Lands, which defines the land areas to be targeted for agricultural production and proper soil fertility management.);
  • Improve postharvest management; promote export and domestic markets for agricultural products (including rice and not merely paddy rice, fruits, and vegetables); promote agro-industry, including postharvest processing; improve the quality standards of agricultural products; organize farmers’ organizations for better bargaining power; aim for optimum use of land and other resources; and encourage and increase private sector investments and participation;
  • Establish mechanisms at the local level to provide techniques and services to farmers; promote an agricultural extension program at the local level; and promote the concept and formations of farmers as effective partners of the private sector
  • Moreover, there have been remarkable achievements in research and development (R&D) on agricultural technologies, such as:
    • high-yield, high-quality seeds;
    • land preparation methodologies;
    • effective use of green manure residuals;
    • land fertility management and use of organic fertilizers;
    • identification of types of pests and the damage they can do as well as correcting misconceptions about pests and pest-control measures; and
    • seed-storage methodologies and timing of harvest and seed drying.

• Rural infrastructure is developing and modernizing

  • Irrigation systems are rehabilitating and constructing

Cropping Activities and Cropping Areas

The Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF) has made significant progress in increasing the land area for crops and paddy-cultivated areas, yield per hectare. Increase productivity in rice and other crops; increase and improve access to extension services, credit, and inputs; increase irrigation; ensure better benefits for farmers through marketing; address farmers’ inadequate knowledge on the use of agricultural inputs and techniques and soil improvement.

• Rice Cropping Areas and Its Yield:

2.7 million hectares of land are the rice cultivation areas. Cambodia's total paddy rice output reached 8.4 million tons in 2011, up from 8.25 million tons last year, according an initial assessment by the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries. Cambodia will hold about 4 million tons of surplus paddy with another 2.57 million tons for export (according to Ngin Chhay, Director of MAFF’s Rice Department/ Source: Phnom Penh Post).

• Other Industrial Cropping:

The second leading after rice cropping is rubber plantation. Rubber is planting in the north-east provinces of Cambodia. Before rubber is just planted only in Kampong Cham and Kraches province but it is expanding to other provinces in the north and the north-east. Rubber trees could be found in Steng Treng, Ratanakry, Moundul Kiry, Preah Vihear, Kampong Thom and Siem Reap.  For other industrial cropping, Cambodian farmers are growing corn, bean, cassava, sweet potato, vegetable, jute, tobacco, sugar cane, sesame, peanut, soy bean and also mung bean.