Phnom Penh: After Prime Minister Hun Sen issued an order to General Hing Bun Heang to lead a force to procure longan fruit from farmers in the provinces bordering Cambodia and Thailand, which are facing challenges in exporting due to the spread of Covid-19, on the evening of August 18 he posted a message on his Facebook page: 

“H.E Hing Bun Heang, H.E Nguon Rattanak, Governor of Battambang Province, H.E Ban Srey Mom, Governor of Pailin Province, must remember the word (purchased from farmers) refers to poor farmers who grow longan directly. For the plantations of civil servants, the armed forces or the tycoons, the tycoons or the businessmen have to find their own market."

The Prime Minister asked for understanding because he could mortgage his house to buy money from farmers who are in trouble, but he announced that he could not help the landowners who have many plantations.

The Prime Minister, further stated, "When the collection is completed, I will distribute it to the army, the police, the military, the doctors, the patients who are doing the food free of charge”.

The Prime Minister stressed, “This is a way to solve in difficult circumstances so that our poor farmers do not lose too much and I do not use the national budget to buy it. As a solution for the future, the Ministry of Agriculture, the Ministry of Commerce, the governors of Battambang and Pailin must strive to find markets for our farmers.”

It should also be noted that Battambang Provincial Hall will be used as a place to buy fruits and vegetables from farmers. Interested farmers can contact Mr. Seng Dilin at 097 777 3737 and Mr. Sun Meng Hay at 088 903 7777.