Kandal province could face a shortage of 34,530 tonnes of rice this year because

rice output in the both the rainy and dry seasons reached only 176,200 tonnes,

according to the provincial agricultural service's estimation.

The

service said the figure of rice production was not able to meet the demand for

the 850,620 population of the province.

In the last rainy season, the

farmers in the province planted rice on 45,230 hectares and achieved an average

yield of one and half tonnes per hectare.

For this dry-season, farmers

have so far cultivated 12,300 hectares of short-term rice, or percent of the

planned output.

To cope with such the situation, the provincial authority

provided pumping machines, petrol to the local people and helped them restore

the irrigation network in order to accelerate and increase dry-season rice

cultivation.

Meanwhile the World Food Program (WFP) in Cambodia announced

plans to provide 40,000 tons of rice to the country this year.

The

pledge of assistance by the WFP will be done in accordance with an agreement

signed here on Feb 2, by WFP representative, Mr Scott Leipar, and Cambodian Red

Cross Vice President My Samedy.

The 40,000 tons to rice will be provided

to the Cambodian repatriates, war displaced people, needy families and victims

of natural calamities in the country.

Last year, Cambodia received 70,000

tons of rice from WFP.

Cambodia, once self-sufficient in rice and a major

rice exporter, has wrestled with shortfalls for over twenty years.

Regaining self-sufficiency in rice production is a one of the most

important objectives for the new government.

 

- AKP