Garlic Becoming Potential Cash Crop for Mondulkiri
AKP Phnom Penh, March 20, 2021 --

Garlic is becoming another potential cash crop for Cambodia’s north-eastern province of Mondulkiri – thanks to remarkable success of a pioneer farmer.
The good news was shared recently in a Facebook post by the Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries H.E. Veng Sakhon.
According to the post, the farmer Mr. Phin Phorn residing in Doh Kramom village, Sangkat Sokdom in Sen Monorom city of the province has achieved abundant harvest following a 3-month growing of the garlic.
While the quantity was huge, the quality is very safe for consumers as it is an organic product and the demand in the domestic markets for it is very high.

The idea of garlic farming in Mondulkiri began with the minister and his team who distributed garlic seeds to some selected farmers in the province as a piloting back in December 2020.
With the satisfactory results, the provincial authority is expected to expand garlic farming and make it another cash crop for the locals in the near future.
By Lim Nary
AKP

And now potatoes too...

March 19, 2021
Mondulkiri potato project looks to expand after high demand
Sok Chan / Khmer Times

The strength in demand for Mondulkiri-grown potatoes has farmers in the region planning to expand their cultivation for next season, says Song Kheang, director of the province’s agriculture department.

He added there are 10 families in Mondulkiri province producing potatoes currently and that the growing season lasts for three months from November through January.

Kheang added that potato cultivation has been in a pilot stage in the province for three years now. He said cultivation covered just one hectare of land this year.

“This was essentially training and piloting in 2021. However, we saw fruitful results. Potato cultivation yields 25 to 30 tonnes per hectare on average,” Kheang.

He added that previously 20 to 30 varieties of potatoes were grown in the province but it was determined that nine specific varieties were best suited for cultivation in the region. Farmers can earn 6,000 riels per kilogramme with most of the market for the crop being in Phnom Penh.

“We did not see any COVID-19-related impact on the market. Furthermore, because the harvest season for potatoes has ended, there is some potential for the cultivation of vegetables such as cabbage, Chinese cabbage and carrots, which are in high demand. The potato, though, affords real potential to the province’s farmers and our department is promoting the growing of more, ” he added.

Kheang noted that farmers are being urged to reserve seedlings for growing next year and says his department hopes and expects there will be more partners and farmers choosing to join in the project expansion because there is such a good market for the crop.
https://www.khmertimeskh.com/50827253/m ... gh-demand/

I wish there was a lot more locally (and organically) produced (and sold) foods in Cambodia so that all farmers could easily feed their families and live a happy life.

I would be very happy to see the farmers grow successful crops of verious types of vegetables to suit their needs and that of their potential market, whom would sell on to the population.

Quotes -
Kheang added that potato cultivation has been in a pilot stage in the province for three years now. He said cultivation covered just one hectare of land this year. Esentially training and piloting in 2021. However, we saw fruitful results. Potato cultivation yields 25 to 30 tonnes per hectare on average,” Kheang.
Farmers can earn 6,000 riels per kilogramme with most of the market for the crop being in Phnom Penh.

So going on the low end of their potential yield 25 tonnes = 25.000 kilograms, so the price at what is quoted would work out at 150,000,000riels or $37.500.

It also looks that there is some determination and pre planning in the agriculture department.

Quotes from article -

Cambodia’s Minister of Agriculture Veng Sakhon has told local media that his ministry plans to purchase $3.5 million’s worth of potato seeds, in a project partnering with South Korea to produce potatoes in the Mondulkiri province.

He said that when the COVID-19 pandemic ends, the planting of the potato seeds will start, adding that Mondulkiri is a good location for growing potatoes as it has a favourable climate, strong soil and a good water infrastructure system.

“The successful production of potatoes in Cambodia will reduce the need to import the vegetable from neighbouring countries, which is currently at 5,000 tonnes per year,” Veng added.

Again we see here how much of essential food items actually come into the country by imports.
There is another thing that struck me, the average price per kilo of potatoes at most market's in the city are priced at approximately 4000 riel's, so the vegetables from outside the country are cheaper. This strikes me to be like many other farming potential in the country will only be outwaighed by cheaper price by imported goods. It's what you could say, the farmers after their work will have no customer market, because the outset price is too high to begin with.