Illustration image (Source: AFP)Cambodia exported 342,136 tonnes of rice in the first eight months of 2015 and the country finds it hard to reach its goal of exporting one million tonnes of rice, said the Cambodian Government –Private Sector Forum’s working group in charge of rice.
According to the Cambodian Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fishery, in the eight-month period, the country shipped rice to 54 countries worldwide, including the European Union, Malaysia , Singapore , and Indonesia.
To manage rice export activities, the country set up the Cambodia Rice Association based on the Cambodia Rice Export Association, the Federal of Cambodian Rice Exporter and the Alliance of Rice Producer and Exporters of Cambodia.
Local economic planners have determined to increase export rice volume, targeting a million tonnes per year from 2015 onwards, but economic analysers said the one-million tonne export goal is unlikely due to ineffective coordination among agencies in handling issues related to farmers, rice processing and export, unexpanded export markets, and low competitiveness.
According to statistics, Cambodia ’s rice exports hit 378,061 tonnes, 378,856 tonnes and 205,717 tonnes in 2014, 2013 and 2012, respectively.-VNA
