THE Cambodian Centre for Study and Development in Agriculture (CEDAC) said Sunday it would start exporting organic jasmine rice to Germany at the beginning of next year, following an agreement originally made in 2007.

Lang Seng Haung, CEDAC’s enterprise manager, said Cambodia would ship 100 tonnes of the rice variety to Germany in January as part of a three-year export agreement totalling 450 tonnes at US$1,400 per tonne.

“We will increase our supply of this kind of rice to Germany in the coming years, which will afford Cambodian farmers an opportunity,” he said, referring to the agreement, which will see 150 tonnes exported in 2011 and a further 200 tonnes during the following year to conclude the current deal.

In 2007, CEDAC, representing 8,000 organic rice growers in seven provinces, signed the trade agreement with German-based company Richers.

More export orders sought

Lang Heng Haung said that he anticipates further export orders of organic jasmine rice will be agreed with the United States. Those orders would likely reach “at least 150 tonnes” in total over next year, he said.

Mao Thora, secretary of state at the Ministry of Commerce, said that growing organic crops remains a difficult process compared to the more common fertiliser-treated alternatives.

“Only saisfaction among buyers and a proper production [standard] will result in fulfilling the aim to export this kind of rice in large amounts in the future,” said Mao Thora.

So far this year CEDAC members have exported about 75 tonnes of organic rice, 60 tonnes of which went to the US and the remainder to Malaysia.