PHNOM PENH: The problem of falling rice prices in Battambang and Banteay Meanchey provinces has been solved by the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries, with the decision to maintain the price of No. 1 Rumdoul rice at 9 baht (THB) or 1,040 riel per kilogram. This minimum purchase guarantee price will apply from Wednesday evening, 16 November 2022, onwards.

This price solution was decided upon after the Minister of Agriculture, Dith Tina, sent two Undersecretaries of State, Khy Kosal and Chhum Chhunly, and experts from the General Department of Agriculture to meet with stakeholders and farmers in Battambang and Banteay Meanchey provinces.

According to the Ministry, after meeting and inspecting the location, the Director General of Green Rice Mills, Oknha Phu Puy, volunteered to cooperate with the Royal Government to set a stable price for rice, with the minimum purchase price guarantee for No. 1 Romduol rice decided at 9 THB or 1,040 riel per kilogram.

The Ministry of Agriculture states that it will not allow farmers to lose benefits for no reason. The Ministry has instructed farmers to contact the Ministry's working group directly at 095 951 111 for Battambang province and 012 838 937 for Banteay Meanchey province, if they find that they are facing specific problems, so that the working group can receive the information and coordinate with the rice mill to resolve the issue.

The Deputy Director of the Battambang Provincial Department of Agriculture, Long Phorn, has told EAC News that the price of rice in Battambang has dropped since 10 November 2022, to an average price of 800-850 riel per kilogram, while rice was previously sold for 1,150 riel per kilogram. Additionally, rice was previously sold at 10,000-11,000 THB per ton, but the price dropped a few days ago to 9,000-8,000 THB per ton.