[PHNOM PENH POST]
Cambodia firm Overseas Cambodia Investment Corporation yesterday signed a
Memorandum of Understanding with a Singapore-based company to develop a
high-output rice seed factory in the Kingdom.
The cooperation
between major investment firm OCIC and agriculture research company Smah
Prum Royal International Pte Ltd is set to raise a capital of US$1
million to establish the factory, OCIC President Pung Kheav Se said at
the Kingdom’s inaugural Cambodia Rice Forum yesterday.
“Although
the population continues to increase, our paddy rice production has
remained the same. So, producing these high-output seeds is paramount.”
The
seeds are expected to produce about eight tonnes per hectare, he said,
adding that Smah Prum Royal has done extensive research in recent years
to enhance growing techniques.
“I believe this cooperation will
improve the country’s current situation in terms of rice production. At
present, one hectare only provides us with about two and a half tonnes,”
Pung Kheav Se added.
Some industry experts said that while
eight tonnes per hectare is an ambitious figure, it is an achievable
figure if the right measures are taken.
Yang Saingkoma,
President of Cambodian Centre for Study and Development in Agriculture
said that with the use of high-quality seeds and the implementation of
efficient irrigation systems, the eight tonne figure is realistic.
“However,
farmers should avoid using extreme fertilisers and chemicals, which
severely impact the environment as an alternative,” he added.
While
Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries official declined to
comment yesterday, statistics from the ministry showed a total of
2,794,164 hectares of paddy rice were cultivated across the Kingdom
during the wet season between May and September.
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