A truck transports rice purchased from local farmers to a rice mill. Supplied
The Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries is continuing to push for the Kingdom’s farmers to unite and form “modern agricultural communities”.
The ministry believes that such communities will help farmers to earn higher incomes because by working collectively, they will reduce production costs, secure better market prices and be able to access loans at more favourable interest rates.
Agriculture minister Dith Tina visited farmers in Battambang province’s Bavel district on January 29.
He emphasised the importance of farmers – especially those who cultivate rice – joining together to form modern agricultural communities.
He reiterated that this approach will bring numerous benefits, such as reducing production costs through land consolidation and bulk purchasing of agricultural inputs, clear production plans which are designed to meet market demands, fixed production contracts, low-interest loans and guaranteed markets for their products.
The minister explained that groups of farmers with at least 1,000 hectares of land between them should unite. This will allow for easier management of their resources, in line with the principles of “having, using, earning and thriving”.
He added that these communities will receive technical support directly from the ministry, through cooperation with local agricultural officials and specialised support teams.
He noted the importance of building trust among farmers, encouraging cooperation, and adhering to the community's laws and regulations to achieve economic benefits and sustainability.
Tina advised national authorities to work closely with agricultural experts to explain the principles and benefits of forming modern agricultural communities to farmers. This collaboration will help spread clear information, enabling farmers to fully understand the benefits of joining these communities.
To boost agricultural productivity, particularly in rice production, the government has introduced several priority measures to support farmers, including the nationwide deployment of agricultural officials to provide direct assistance throughout the country.
In 2025, Cambodia's economy is projected to grow by 6.3%, with the industrial sector leading the growth at 8.6%, followed by services at 5.6%, and agriculture at 1.1%.
According to the “Budget in Brief Fiscal Year 2025” report, agriculture is expected to improve due to growth in crop and livestock production, as well as gradual improvements in the fisheries sector.
Crop production is expected to continue growing, thanks to ongoing investment from both domestic and international sources in processing facilities, as well as government interventions such as grants to promote domestic production and the implementation of free trade agreements.
According to the agriculture ministry, in 2024, Cambodia exported 11.7 million tonnes of agricultural products, a 39% increase from the 8.4 million tons reported in 2023.
Key exports included rubber, rice, paddy rice, cassava, cashew nuts, bananas, longans and pepper, with a total value of approximately $4.8 billion. The sector contributed about 22% of the Kingdom’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in 2024.
Its importance was highlighted by Deputy Prime Minister Sok Chenda Sophea during the January 22 closing ceremony of the 2024 annual meeting of the agriculture ministry.
He noted that supporting agriculture is a priority for the government, which has always paid close attention to it because of its vital role in not only ensuring food security for the Cambodian people but in the promotion of national economic growth.
Chenda Sophea reiterated that in order to enhance the agriculture sector, the government has established several important policies, such as increasing production, stabilising agricultural product prices, deploying agricultural officers nationwide and building modern agricultural communities.
