So far this year, Yang Saing Koma, secretary of state for the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, has organised 29 farming contracts between 29 farming communities and seven rice mills in three provinces.
A May 20 report from the working group led by Saing Koma explained that the contracts applied to 1,367 households who farm a total area of 4,612ha. They are expected to harvest approximately 19,000 tonnes of rice.
The contracts were signed in Prey Veng, Battambang and Banteay Meanchey province, with the contract programme expected to be rolled out in 10 additional provinces in the near future.
Saing Koma told The Post on May 22 that the ministry plans to include more than 30 rice mills in its future contracts.
“We want farmers who produce good-quality rice to have reliable markets; while rice mills will also have access to good-quality rice for export processing. This way, we can address the market needs of both farmers and rice mills,” he said.
Saing Koma noted that the contracts will not cover Preah Vihear province, where a scheme that supplies rice seed to farmers via private companies is currently being piloted.
Last week, Amru Rice Cambodia provided 59 tonnes of Phka Rumduol fragrance rice seed to 14 farming communities in Preah Vihear.
