PHNOM PENH: Cambodia and China signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) on September 15, 2023, establishing phytosanitary standards for the export of fresh coconuts from Cambodia to China.

The MOU was signed by the Cambodian Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries (MAFF) and the General Administration of Customs of China (GACC).

According to MAFF Undersecretary of State and Spokesperson Lok Chumteav Im Rachana, Cambodia must work with farmers to ensure that they grow coconuts in accordance with the hygiene and phytosanitary standards set by the GACC.

The MAFF General Department of Agriculture has begun informing coconut plantation owners, the fragrant coconut farming community, and fresh coconut processing and packaging plant owners who wish to produce and process fresh coconuts for the Chinese market to apply for registration of their plantations and factories.

The General Department of Agriculture will assign professional officers to evaluate the plantations and factories in accordance with the technical procedures set out in the protocol before sending a list of qualified plantations and processing plants to the Chinese side in early December 2023 for review and final evaluation.

As of 2022, Cambodia has 17,000 hectares of coconut plantations, of which 14,000 hectares are harvested. The total output in 2022 nationwide was 248,000 tons.

The signing of the MOU is a significant step forward for Cambodia's coconut industry, as it will pave the way for the export of fresh coconuts to China, a large and growing market.