Cambodia expects rice surplus of 2.78m tonnes
Prime Minister Hun Sen has said Cambodia expects a rice surplus of 2.78 million tonnes this year.
Speaking at a workshop on food security and nutrition on Monday, he said food production was increasing through the development of irrigation and improvements in agricultural technology.
“Cambodia can really maintain its food security. In fact, in 2011 we produced about 8.77 million tonnes of paddy,” Hun Sen said.
“With the food balance in 2012, Cambodia will be able to achieve a paddy surplus of 4.43 million tonnes, which is equal to a rice surplus of 2.78 million tonnes.”
Cambodia aims to increase rice exports to one million tonnes in 2015. Exports of rice to Thailand alone are forecast to rise at an annual rate of 30 per cent.
