PHNOM PENH: The Cambodian “Phka Romduol” rice variety won the World’s Best Rice 2022 award at the World Rice Conference in Phuket, Thailand on Thursday, 17 November.

The Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries has issued a congratulatory message to celebrate ‘Phka Romduol’ rice ranking No. 1 in the world.

"Congratulations to the Cambodian rice ‘Phka Romduol,’ which won the first-place prize, as the best rice at the 2022 World Rice Conference held in Phuket, Thailand. This is the fifth time that Cambodian rice has won this award, bringing pride to Cambodia,” said the Ministry.

The President of the Cambodian Rice Federation, Song Saran, extended thanks to the team at the Rice Federation, to rice farmers, members of the rice mills, the wider agriculture community, and the Ministries of Agriculture and Commerce for supporting high quality rice production in Cambodia, allowing for local rice to compete and win awards internationally.

Cambodia received the World’s Best Rice 2022 award at the same time that the Ministry of Agriculture is tackling the problem of falling rice prices in the Battambang and Banteay Meanchey provinces.

A solution to this problem was found 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.

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 Phka Romduol rice decided at 9 baht or 1,040 riel per kilogram.