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.