BANTEAY MEANCHEY: Farmers in Banteay Meanchey’s Mongkul Borei district are pleased to see this year’s rice prices increase, especially since this year’s yield has decreased.

One farmer living in Chamnom commune said that this year he cultivated seven hectares of fragrant rice, yielding about 3.5 tonnes per hectare this year due to a lack of water in the dry months. This is the third harvest that has sold for about $278 a ton. He said, "I have been farming for a long time, from the olden times until now. The price of rice is high and good. Farmers can accept it."

Meanwhile, another farmer, Chan Koeun, said that she was happy because the price of rice this year is higher than last year, although the yield is lower than last year. "For this year prices are better than last year," she said. “I would like to suggest for the price of rice, please do not lower it, maybe keep the price the same or higher.”

She also called for better infrastructure, especially roads, to facilitate crop transportation.

Rice trader Ly Vanna said that he buys fragrant rice for about 1,200 Riels per kilo, meanwhile type 54 rice, an early-maturing, high-yield rice variety, goes for about 11,000 Riels per kilo.

"In a day, I can collect between 6-7 cars from this commune, about 40 tons per car. Compared to last year, it’s better because last year a kilo was less than 10 baht (around 1,100 Riels).”

Commune chief Khun Khuon, said that farmers planted about 975 hectares of dryland rice and that they were able to harvest about 60-65% of it. Most farmers in the commune prefer to use 54 varieties and fragrant varieties, and this year's yield is between 3.5 to 4 tons per hectare.

Deputy Governor Khlok Nouy, said that while the price of rice is higher this year, some farmers are complaining that prices are actually lower. He responded that some farmers are harvesting their rice too early, producing a lower quality that fetches lower prices. He said that for good, ripe rice, the price is high.

The Royal Government’s economic Pentagon Strategy includes boosting the agricultural economy through establishing rural farmers’ associations, financing programs to boost production, and maintaining agricultural prices at a reasonable level.

Farmers in Banteay Meanchey province who have benefited from the new policy program are satisfied and announced their support for the new government.

One said, "The new government is good, it is helping farmers. If I follow them, they will help farmers get high prices and help with irrigation, digging canals, and helping farmers plant twice a year. I wish the new government and the Prime Minister an eighth mandate so that they continue to help farmers.”