Lacklustre prices, competition dampen cassava exports

[geovalin]

Cheng Sokhorng

Cambodian cassava farmers are facing dropping prices in the agro commodity this season, as the lack of a domestic market and dependence on exports, which faces competition from neighbouring countries, has led them to call for government intervention.

Chhay Thi, a cassava farmer in Rattanakkiri province’s O’Yadav district, said yields on his 4-hectare farm had reduced from 12 tonnes per hectare last season to just 8 tonnes this harvest, given the drought-like conditions and depleting land quality.

This added to the dropping prices of cassava, he said, calling on the government to intervene. The price of dried cassava, Thi said, had dropped from 550 riel per kilo earlier this season to 490 riel per kilo. Last season, prices were around 630 riel per kilo of dried cassava.

read more: http://www.phnompenhpost.com/business/lacklustre-prices-competition-dampen-cassava-exports