Cambodia's Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF) signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) yesterday with China’s Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region to develop and enhance co-operation on agriculture.

The MoU is valid for a period of five years. The two parties want to improve and strengthen communication on improved crops and plant varieties and technology, according to a statement.

The deal was signed by Lord Reasmey, secretary general of MAFF, and Zhang Mingpei, director general of the Department of Agriculture of Guangxi (DAG), and witnessed by Chan Sarun, minister of MAFF.

“According to the agricultural development need of Cambodia, DAG will send experts to Cambodia, and invite Cambodian agricultural technicians to Guangxi to carry out training on integrated pest and disease management, pesticide and fertiliser application, aquacultures, livestock and poultry production, agricultural machinery application, and high-yielding crop cultivation,” the statement said.

“DAG will also provide the unique crop planting techniques of Guangxi to Cambodia,” it added.

Chan Sarun said China is one of Cambodia’s strategic countries and always supports the country in various areas.

He said the ministry has also got a lot of support from China in improving and developing the agricultural sector.

“These are crucial for Cambodia in the implementation of government policy on enhancement of exporting a million tonnes of milled rice by 2015, as well as helping to improve Cambodia to catch up with its integration into ASEAN by 2015,” he said.

“I hope that Gaungxi will continue its support and give new ideas and experience and exchange experts to seek possibilities for exporting more of Cambodia’s agricultural products to China. It will also help to attract Chinese investors to invest in the agricultural sector in Cambodia, especially the processing sector,” he said.

Zhang Mingpei said the agreement will allow for more opportunities for both parties to increase agricultural co-operation.

At the same time, DAG organised a conference on agricultural promotion co-operation and an agricultural fair at Cambodia’s Royal University of Agriculture and about 60 selected kinds of the best products in Guangxi were displayed at the event.

To contact the reporter on this story: May Kunmakara at [email protected]