Cambodia’s Coffee Shortfall Spurs Call for Farmers

Cambodia’s coffee industry is facing a stark imbalance: the country consumes around 20,000 tonnes of coffee each year but produces barely 1,000 tonnes locally. The Cambodia Coffee Association is urging farmers to switch to coffee cultivation to meet demand and strengthen livelihoods.

Demand Outpaces Supply

Association president Duk Piseth says domestic beans are highly sought after, yet most of the coffee consumed is imported. Plantations in Mondulkiri, Ratanakkiri and Koh Kong provide some supply, but it remains a fraction of what the market requires. “There is a large demand for coffee, but we can only produce 1,000 tonnes,” Piseth explained, noting that many farmers are unaware of the crop’s profitability or lack the technical knowledge to grow it.

Training and Challenges

To close the gap, the association is expanding training programmes covering crop maintenance, cost management and cultivation techniques. Farmers face hurdles including water shortages, rising fuel costs and limited expertise in disease control. Piseth has encouraged a shift to solar power to reduce expenses, while stressing that coordinated efforts across research, water management and seed development are essential.

Farmers Testing the Waters

Some growers are already making the transition. In Mondulkiri, Nem Sokhak switched from durian to coffee after learning that local beans account for just 10 percent of consumption. She hopes consumers will favour Cambodian coffee over imports. Others, like Sin Kosal, have converted spare land from bananas and rubber to coffee, though concerns remain about volatile prices and limited investment capacity.

Industry Still Emerging

Buyers say coffee can yield returns within three to four years, but quality control is inconsistent. Mixed or unripe beans reduce value, and prices often follow the Vietnamese market. The Ministry of Agriculture confirms Cambodia’s sector is still small, with only 601 tonnes exported in 2025, mainly to China, Japan and Russia. Imports from Vietnam, Thailand and beyond dominate shelves.

A Growing but Fragile Sector

Despite obstacles, cultivated land has expanded to over 700 hectares, producing more than 1,300 tonnes in recent years. Arabica and Robusta varieties are grown across several provinces, but the industry remains vulnerable to climate change, labour shortages and competition from cheaper imports.

Cambodia’s coffee story is one of potential yet to be realised. With demand surging and farmers beginning to adapt, the challenge now is to build a resilient sector that can deliver quality beans, reduce reliance on imports and offer farmers a sustainable future.

-2026-05-25