PHNOM PENH: A recent “Khmer Agricultural Village” exhibition, held on June 1-2 in Phnom Penh, aimed to promote Cambodia's impressive agricultural sector, which boasts exports of a staggering 8.4 million tonnes of produce in the previous year.

Organized by the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, the event was inaugurated by the First Lady, Lok Chumteav Dr. Pich Chanmony Hun Manet. It brought together government officials, business leaders, and international guests to celebrate Cambodia's agricultural achievements.

The First Lady emphasized the importance of supporting domestically-grown products and urged collaboration between food establishments, agricultural associations, and cooperatives. This collaboration, she stressed, would strengthen the sector and benefit both farmers and consumers.

Highlighting Cambodia's agricultural resilience, H.E. Dith Tina, Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, pointed out the nation's ability to ensure food security and contribute significantly to foreign markets despite global challenges.

The exhibition served as a testament to Cambodia's thriving agricultural industry, which exports a vast array of products including rice, cashew nuts, pepper, bananas, mangoes, and rubber. With exports valued at US$4.3 billion, agriculture plays a crucial role in the Cambodian economy.

Cambodia's agriculture sector has a lot of potential for growth. Cambodia has a large amount of arable land and a large pool of potential agricultural workers, many of whom are currently migrant workers who would prefer to stay closer to home for work.

The Cambodian government has identified agriculture as a key area for development and is investing in infrastructure, research, and extension services to support farmers.There is a growing global demand for food, and Cambodia is well-positioned to take advantage of this demand by increasing its agricultural exports

While rice is the dominant crop, Cambodia is starting to diversify its agricultural production, which will help to reduce its reliance on a single commodity.