Cambodia exported $2.35 billion worth of agricultural products in the first four months of this year, said a report from the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries of Camodia.

Some 5.3 million tonnes of agricultural products have been exported during the period, a year-on-year increase of 74 percent, read the report.

The main products Cambodia exported included rice, bananas, mangoes, cassava, cashew nuts, corn, palm oil, pepper and tobacco.

Exports of milled rice and paddy rice in Cambodia earned $210 million and $364 million respectively and other agricultural product exports were valued at $1.78 billion, read the report.

“Exports of agricultural products of Cambodia in the first four months of 2024 increased by 2.2 million tonnes compared to the same period in 2023, in which agricultural products contributed to high export growth, including fresh cassava, rice, cassava flour, corn, longan, fresh mangoes and peppers,” the ministry said.

China, EU and ASEAN nations Vietnam and Thailand are the major importers of Cambodia’s agricultural items.

Cambodian Agriculture Minister Tith Dina encouraged farmers to create modern farming communities to reap more profit.

“Modern agricultural cooperative is a method capable of guaranteeing the supply of raw materials, processed goods and secured markets,” Dina said at a field visit to an agricultural cooperative in Battambang province on May 8.

Earlier this week, three ministries – the Ministry of Agriculture Forestry and Fisheries of Cambodia, the Ministry of Water Resources and Meteorology of Cambodia and the Ministry of Rural Development of of Cambodia announced plans to join hands to support Cambodian farmers and improve the livelihood of people living in rural areas.

A new joint working group will be formed that will work on water supply and deal with water shortages impacting farmers and the development of irrigation systems in the areas lacking water supply.

Agriculture is one of the four pillars supporting Cambodia’s economy.

The Cambodian government has announced the implementation of a new strategic policy for agricultural development, aiming to upgrade agriculture from household farming to commercial farming and enhance farmers’ income through value-added products.

Under the priority policy, the Cambodian government deployed 250 agricultural officials and the number will be raised to over 1,300 by 2025 in communes nationwide to add human resources for the agricultural sector’s development.

These officials will technically assist farmers, form agricultural cooperatives, link production chains and guide farmers to reduce production costs.