[PHNOM PENH POST]
Demand from Thailand and Vietnam helped to drive up the Kingdom’s
cassava exports 88 percent in the first three months of 2011, compared
to the same period last year, according to Camcontrol, a division of the
Commerce Ministry.
Cassava exports between January and March totalled 204,618, up 87.7 percent from 108,987 tonnes in 2010.
Higher prices also helped to boost export revenues for Cambodia.
Revenues for the period equalled US$9.9 million, or about a 143 percent increase from last year’s $4.1 million.
Khuon
Savuth, director of Camcontrol, tied the rise to demand from the
Kingdom’s larger neighbors and said the increasing prices are pushing
more and more farmers to plant cassava.
“The high price of cassava not only improves the living standard of people but also upholds the national economy.”
Chhorn
Saroem, President of Chey Chamroeun Company, which exports agricultural
products to Thailand, said the increased farming boosted her cassava
shipments in the first three months of the year 50 percent higher than
the same period last year.
“This year the farmers throughout
Pailin province flock to cultivate more cassava than other crops because
of high price,” she said.
She added that a tonne fetched 370,000 riels this year compared to 110,000 riel last year.
Khiev
Sophet of Pailin, who typically grows corn, said he emphasised cassava
this season because of its higher price. He said, even with the
increased farming of the crop, “I believe the price should hold for next
year.”
According to data from Camcontrol, Cambodia’s cassava exports in 2010 totalled just 165,229 tonnes worth $12 million.
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