The Cambodian government has introduced a new strategic policy aimed at bolstering agricultural development and increasing farmers’ income by transitioning from household farming to commercial agriculture. The policy was launched by Prime Minister Hun Manet as part of the 5th and 6th Priority Policy Programmes of the new government’s 7th mandate.
The 5th priority policy focuses on establishing a mechanism to facilitate, coordinate, and finance programs targeted at enhancing the production, market access, and pricing of key agricultural products. Meanwhile, the 6th priority policy outlines the government’s plan to deploy 250 agricultural officials. This number is expected to increase to over 1,300 officials by 2025 in communes across the country to provide technical assistance to farmers, promote the formation of agricultural cooperatives, help establish production chains, and guide farmers in reducing production costs.
Prime Minister Hun Manet emphasized the importance of agriculture in Cambodia’s economic development, stating that it remains a key driver alongside the diversification and enhancement of the service, industry, and digital sectors. The aim of the policy is to upgrade traditional farming practices to modern methods with high standards, with Cambodia aspiring to become one of the top ten agricultural-producing nations globally.
The success of the program relies on improved cooperation between farmers, cooperatives, companies, exporters, the government, and customers. To support this initiative, the government has allocated $100 million as a special credit for the agricultural sector.
Prime Minister Hun Manet called upon the people of Cambodia to support local agricultural products. In line with this, officials will be deployed to communes to promote good agricultural practices with a focus on quality.
Cambodia’s Minister of Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries, Dith Tina, highlighted that the country currently possesses 3.6 million hectares of agricultural land. In the period between January and November of the previous year, Cambodia exported 6.2 million tonnes of agricultural products, generating $3.5 billion in revenue. These agricultural products have been exported to a total of 74 countries.
The introduction of this strategic policy is expected to bring about significant improvements in Cambodia’s agricultural sector. By increasing agricultural productivity, enhancing market access, and upgrading farming practices, the government aims to uplift farmers’ incomes, contribute to the country’s economic development, and position Cambodia as a leading agricultural producer on the world stage.
Source: Khmer Times
