Cambodia earned $600 million from rice exports to international markets in the first half of 2022.
In 2022, Cambodia rice exports are predicted to increase more than 16 percent, amounting to an additional 327.200 tons worth $198.63 million. Cambodia exports a variety of rice to international markets through 53 companies, according to a report from Cambodia Rice Federation (CRF).
Compared to 2021, exports to 23 European countries amounted to 106,194 tons.
Lun Yeng, CRF Secretary General, told Kiripost that Cambodia's rice exports have improved since early 2022. Cambodia is expected to export between 700,000 and 750,000 tons this year. However, he is also concerned about the impact of the global fuel crisis.
“There are also some challenges in this sector (agriculture), transportation problems, fertilizer prices, pesticides are increasing,” Yeng said.
President of Cambodian Farmers Community Coalition (CCFC), Theng Savoeun, told Kiripost that despite rice exports increasing in the first six months of the year, there are many issues farmers face.
“They still face challenges. We should try to find a method to resolve all this problem. If not, I think farmers will be disappointed in production, especially I am so worried about rising debt”.
In 2021, the total area under rice cultivation will be 3.55 million hectares and the total rice yield will be 12.21 million tons. As an increase compared to 2020, rice production will have an average annual growth of about 3 percent.
