Cambodia rice market

Cambodia rice market

PHNOM PENH (Reuter): Singaporean rice traders, after touring
Cambodia's rice markets, said they were optimistic about the
prospect of developing Cambodia into an important rice producer
for international markets.

"It is not at all unrealistic that Cambodia in five years
could export about one million tonnes," a member of the Singapore
delegation told Reuters before heading home on Sunday.

The 21-member delegation, which included representatives from
16 leading trading companies, spent four days studying Cambodia's
rice market for possible imports of the staple and other grains
for home consumption and re-export.

But delegates generally said that Cambodian farmers would have
to improve the quality of rice production, the variety and the
milling process before producing large-scale exports.

"At the moment they are starting from scratch, the yields are
very low," said the first trader.

"We will return, that's for sure. This place can become
Southeast Asia's rice bowl if they can improve the quality,"
another trader said.