Agricultural development policy targets modernisation

Agricultural development policy targets modernisation

The inter-ministries finalised the discussion on the draft of the agricultural development policy for 2021-2030 yesterday, drawing high hopes for the policy to promote agricultural development with a competitive, sustainable and inclusive approach.

The meeting on drafting the final policy was chaired by Aun Pornmoniroth, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Economy and Finance, and chairman of the Policy Committee on Economy and Finance with participants from the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries.

The relevant ministries and stakeholders provide input to finalise the draft policy before submitting it for the approval of the Council of Ministers.

Veng Sakhon, Minister of Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries, said that the draft policy on agricultural development is a long-term vision for modernising the agriculture sector in Cambodia.

“The purpose of the policy is to promote the growth of competitive and environmentally friendly agriculture that provides high quality, safe and nutritious products with high consideration for land, agriculture, water, forest resources, fisheries and sustainable food security,” Sakhon said.

The modernising agriculture sector includes planting in nets, using water-saving irrigation systems, rice cultivation with minimal labour, and using agricultural drones, he said.

“All of these are important foundations in promoting a competitive agricultural sector, climate change resilience and sustainability, aimed at increasing farmers’ incomes, expanding prosperity and improving the
well-being of the Cambodian people,” he said.

Hang Sokhun, President of Cambodia Agricultural Cooperative Alliance, said that the policy is a direct map of agricultural development in Cambodia and attraction of investors to develop in agriculture, which is the basis of local economic development to increase agricultural products for export markets.

“The government’s policy to support the agricultural sector is to help develop the local economy, pushing farmers in using modern technology and ensuring a market,” he said.

According to the Agriculture Ministry, Cambodia exported 7.98 million tonnes of agricultural products in 2021, up 63.8 percent year on year.

Shipped to 68 countries and regions, the Southeast Asian country earned gross revenue of $4.96 billion from exports last year.

Last week, Prime Minister Hun Sen said that agricultural products to China are on the growth path because the Chinese side has facilitated the import procedures from Cambodia, particularly under the Cambodia-China Free Trade Agreement, which came into force earlier this year. Khmer Times