June 16, 2020
Ministry calls for cashew nut processing factory
The Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries has urged a company that has been farming cashew nut trees in Siem Reap, to invest in a processing factory because the government is considering establishing a cashew nut research centre.

The call was made during a meeting between Minister Veng Sakhon and the president of Sophorn Theary Peanich Co Ltd Siek Piseth yesterday in Siem Reap province.

Sophorn Theary Peanich Co Ltd, which was granted an economic land concession (ELC) of 4,000 hectares in Chong Spean village, Khvav commune, Chi Kraeng district, Siem Reap province, in 2006, said it would implement a contract with the Ministry of Agriculture in 2017 to grow cashew nut trees on a 1,232-hectare plantation.

Sakhon said that the company should expand its plantation and urged the company to establish the processing factory to add value at a cost better than selling the raw material.

“If the company could invest in a [cashew nut] processing factory, it will transform the region into a cashew nut processing hub in the future and will create more jobs in the province,” he said.

Sakhon said the Ministry is also considering establishing cashew nut research centre to promote the development of the sector.
https://www.khmertimeskh.com/50734356/m ... g-factory/

September 10, 2020
Cashew nut prices in decline

Cambodia’s cashew nut prices slightly dropped because of border closures caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, although some goods are being let through.

The price of cashew nuts was $2 per kilogramme (kg). It fell to $1.5 a kg for raw cashew nuts and $7.5 a kg for processed cashew nuts this year, according to an official from the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries. Cambodian raw cashew nuts went through around a 50 percent price drops compared with statistics recorded in mid-2019 last year.

Cambodia’s cashew nuts exports primarily go to Vietnam, Japan, Russia, Hong Kong, China, France and South Korea. However, 95 percent of raw cashew nuts were sent to Vietnam for processing and only 5 percent were processed locally, according to Kann Kunthy, managing director of Cambodia Agriculture Cooperative Corp (CACC).

He added that Cambodia is able to produce up to 250,000 tonnes cashew nuts a year. A total of 15 provinces grow the plant, notably in Kampong Cham, Kampong Thom and Tboung Khmum but also in Siem Reap, Preah Vihear, Ratanakiri, Kratie, and Stung Treng.

“We expect that in the next three to four years, the harvest will be about 500,000 tonnes of cashew nuts.
https://www.khmertimeskh.com/50762676/c ... n-decline/

I just started enjoying cashew milk based yogurt. What if these fluctuations in nut prices mess up my new habit?

In tough times due to Covid-19, cashew nuts bring relief to Cambodia
Sunday, 18 Oct 2020
12:46 PM MYT
PHNOM PENH, Oct 18 (The Phnom Penh Post/ANN): Despite Covid-19 (coronavirus) border restrictions, Cambodia exported more than 200,000 tonnes of cashew nuts to international markets in the first nine months of this year, up 20.51 per cent year-on-year, the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries reported.

The Kingdom shipped cashew nut products to the Vietnamese, Thai, Japanese, Russian, Chinese, Hong Kong, French, South Korean, Turkish and Bangladeshi markets during the period, the ministry said.

In Lai Huot, owner of the Madam Huot cashew nut processing cottage industry in Kampong Thom province’s southwestern Kampong Svay district, told The Post that 40 tonnes of cashew nuts processed at her business had been sold to local markets in the period January-September.

She noted that the sharp drop in international tourists during Covid-19 had made a dent in the cashew nut market, but stressed that it was business as usual for Madam Huot, with sales on track to outstrip last year’s 50 tonnes.

Lai Huot is also the president of the Chey Sambor Cashew Nut Processing Handicraft Association, which has a membership of 33 families. The association grows cashew nuts on 344ha for exclusive domestic supply.

Looking to capitalise on a potential post-Covid-19-era boom in international cashew nut orders, she has been working with Top Planning Japan Co Ltd to set up a processing plant in the district.

The new facility will have the daily capacity to process three tonnes of cashew nuts and detach the peel from 10 tonnes of raw cashew kernels.

The $200,000 plant is scheduled to be launched later this year and is expected to process 90 tonnes of cashew nuts per annum for export to Japan – set to be the Kingdom’s first shipment of the crop to the East Asian nation.

Lai Huot said: “I’ve clinched two major deals this year. I’ve signed a contract to supply the Japanese firm [Top Planning Japan] and another to supply local company Khmer Organic Cooperative Co Ltd with 300kg a month. In addition to that, we’ll retail across some provinces.”

Cashew nuts are typically harvested from early March to May, she noted. During this year’s harvest season, prices plunged from 6,800-7,000 riel (US$1.66-$1.71) at the beginning to close the season at around 4,700-5,000 riel, according to Lai Huot.
https://www.thestar.com.my/aseanplus/as ... o-cambodia

USAID Greening Prey Lang Helps Exploring Markets for Cambodian Cashew Nuts
AKP Phnom Penh, May 26, 2021 --

After two negotiation meetings coordinated by USAID Greening Prey Lang between cashew farmers from two agriculture cooperatives (ACs), Mean Rith and Tum Ring in Kampong Thom province, and Madam Lai Hout Enterprise, an agreement for the first purchases of cashews was reached on Monday.

Under the agreement, Madam Lai Hout Enterprise agreed to purchase cashews at KHR 300 (US$0.075) per kilogramme above market price from 63 farmers from the two agriculture cooperatives, according to a USAID's news release.

"So far, 97 tonnes of cashews have been supplied to Madam Lai Hout," the same source added.

When farmers have established links to buyers for their agricultural products, they don’t have to worry if their products will be sold or prices will be low, said the release, underlining that with contracted buyers and steady prices, farmers’ income increases, reducing the need to exploit natural resources for their livelihood.


In the first five months of 2021, Cambodia exported 0.80 million tonnes of cashew nuts to international markets, up 610,559 tonnes compared to the same period a year earlier.

Cambodian cashew nuts are now known to have a wide market as well, with most of the exports to neighbouring countries, and the rest to Korea, Japan, China, Europe, etc.

(Photos: USAID)
By Heng Panha

Miss Grand Japan 2020 Helps Promote Cambodia’s Cashew Nuts in Japan


AKP Phnom Penh, August 15, 2021 --​ Miss Grand Japan 2020 Ruri Saji has helped promote Cambodia’s cashew nuts in Japanese market, according to the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF)’s news release recently.

H.E. Veng Sakhon, Minister of MAFF expressed his hope that Cambodian cashew nuts will gain more popularity in Japan market thanks to Miss Grand Japan 2020 Ruri Saji.

“The promotion campaign of Cambodia’s cashew nuts in Japan market was conducted by Miss. Ruri Saji”, he confirmed recently.

Miss. Ruri Saji is trying her best to inform the Japanese people about the real taste of Cambodian cashew nuts.

In March, Miss. Ruri Saji brought home the Best in National Costume award at the 2020 Miss Grand International pageant held in Thailand.

From January to June, Cambodia exported a total of 843,243 tonnes of cashew nuts, mostly to Vietnam, Thailand, and China, followed by Japan, India, South Korea, Laos, and United Arab Emirates.

Recently, Cambodian cashew nut has been recognised by Japanese people to more flavorful than that from Viet Nam, India and Africa, but overall the quality of hygiene, production, use of technology, cultivation and processing are still limited, and these negative factors make it difficult to find a market.

Regarding this issue, under the framework of Grant Assistance for Grassroots Human Security Projects, the Government of Japan has provided US$169,720 in grant to strengthen cashew nut value chain in Kampong Thom province. - AKP

Vietnam becomes leading market of Cambodia’s cashew nuts
Vietnam was the largest market of Cambodia’s cashew nuts in the first eight months of 2021, according to Thmey Thmey newspaper of Cambodia.
VNA Tuesday, September 07, 2021 19:13

Cambodia exported about 876,531 tonnes of cashew nuts in the January-August period, up 350 percent compared to the same period last year, the newspaper cited data from Cambodia's Agriculture Ministry.

Agriculture Minister Veng Sakhon said 99 percent of the total cashew exports, or nearly 870,000 tonnes, were exported to Vietnam. The rise in export was attributed to an increase in the area under cultivation and the stockpile from last year.

Currently, Cambodia has more than 500,000 hectares of cashew trees in 10 provinces. Kampong Thom province has the most land growing cashew trees with 90,959 ha, followed by Kratie with 47,858 ha and Ratanakiri with 30,459 ha, according to the Cashew Association of Cambodia./.
VNA

Cambodia, Japan Discuss Investment on Cashew Processing
AKP Phnom Penh, January 27, 2022 --

The Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries and Japanese company Yebiss Holdings have discussed possible investment in cashew processing factory.

The discussion took place at the ministry on Jan. 25 between H.E. Minister Veng Sakhon and Mr. Akira Taniguchi, President of Yebiss Holdings.

Both sides also discussed the challenges and opportunities to establish a processing factory to export more Cambodian cashew to Japanese market.
- AKP

Stung Treng cashew plant unveils global ambitions
Keo Bosaba | Publication date 26 December 2022 | 21:21 ICT
A Stung Treng cashew nut roaster is embracing solar and teaching farmers the latest growing techniques, as it sets its sights on becoming a global brand.

“With over 200,000ha of cashew plantations, the Kingdom should be a major player in the global cashew industry,” says Soeun Sothnita, business development manager of her family’s operation, Handcrafted Cashew Nuts Stung Treng (HCST).

The processing plant, which has been running for one year, stands on 4ha in Sre Krasaing commune of Stung Treng’s Siem Bok district. They purchase nuts from local farmers, and turn them into several flavours of snack. Currently, the plant produces 15 tonnes of finished products each month.

Sothnita, aged just 20, is in her third year of university studying business and finance. She helped to establish the business, and is insistent that it help to address some of the challenges that are facing the Kingdom’s farmers.

“My parents and I want to help farmers harvest high-quality, lasting yields and we think that following best agricultural practices is the way to do so. If we can achieve goal, our cashew nuts will attract consumers from many more markets,” she said.
https://www.phnompenhpost.com/business/ ... -ambitions

Some 114,000 Tonnes of Cashew Nuts Exported in First Two Months
AKP Phnom Penh, March 30, 2023 --
During the first two months of 2023, Cambodia exported 14,193 tonnes of cashew nuts to four countries, according to a report from the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries.

Of the amount, 114,140 tones were exported to Vietnam, 27 tones to Japan, 20 tonnes to Thailand and 6.40 tonnes to South Korea, continued the source.

Cambodia is committed to producing quality cashew nuts competitive in national and international markets.

Cashew nut is Cambodia's third most exported commercial crop, after rice standing 1st and cassava 2nd.

H.E. Dith Tina, Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, is cooperating with key players such as Cambodia cashew federations and associations, Ministry of Commerce, and Rural Development and Agriculture Bank to boost Cambodia's cashew nut export.

Cambodia now can produce up to 1,180,000 tonnes of cashew nuts from 700,000 hectares of land across the country.
- AKP