Cambodian Paddy Prices Collapse, Farmers Demand Urgent Relief

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Angkor Photography Tour

 

 

Paddy prices in Cambodia have plunged to a staggering low of 600 riels per kilogramme—barely enough to buy a sweet—leaving farmers across the country teetering on the edge of financial ruin. The sharp drop, from a typical range of 800–900 riels, has triggered widespread concern, with growers now demanding a minimum of 1,000 riels to cover basic costs and repay mounting debts.

 

Prime Minister Hun Manet responded swiftly to the crisis, reaffirming agriculture as a national priority and pledging targeted support to stabilise rural incomes. In a public statement, he outlined plans to improve irrigation, reduce production costs, and expand market access, while deploying agricultural officials to provide hands-on assistance at the commune level.

 

Despite these assurances, farmers say the situation is dire. Many are burdened by loans taken from microfinance institutions to fund fertilisers, water supply and harvesting. With prices falling and border exports to Thailand restricted, oversupply has worsened, leaving producers with little bargaining power and dwindling returns.

 

Socio-economic researcher Chey Tech warned that the annual price slump is driven by mismatched supply and demand, as farmers often plant varieties based on last year’s prices rather than current market signals. He urged the Ministry of Agriculture to introduce contract farming schemes and incentivise investment in domestic processing facilities to prevent raw materials from being siphoned off by neighbouring countries.

 

In Banteay Meanchey, one farmer cultivating 90 hectares of paddy and cassava confirmed the crisis firsthand. “Even 800 riels wasn’t enough,” he said. “Now it’s 600. We’re desperate for fair prices to survive.”

 

The General Directorate of Agriculture has also advised farmers to avoid harvesting unripe paddy, warning that poor quality further depresses prices. But without structural reforms and stronger market protections, many fear Cambodia’s farming communities will remain trapped in a cycle of low income, rising costs and economic vulnerability.

 

As the harvest season nears completion, the government faces mounting pressure to deliver on its promises—and ensure that the backbone of Cambodia’s food security isn’t left to bear the burden alone.

 

-2025-08-21