Phnom Penh, March 22, 2026, Vayo FM
Cambodia’s Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries has reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening agricultural exports in 2026, with a particular focus on improving transit routes through Laos to access the Chinese market.
Minister of Agriculture H.E. Dith Tina outlined the strategy during the closing ceremony of the ministry’s 2025 annual review and 2026 planning summit, emphasizing the need to modernize the sector and make it more diverse and resilient. Among the key priorities are enhancing export coordination, ensuring smoother and more efficient transportation of agricultural goods through Laos, and maintaining price stability to safeguard both producers and consumers.
Focus on Market Expansion and Export Efficiency
The minister highlighted ongoing efforts to expand Cambodia’s international market access. Recent achievements include gaining approval to export durian and live crocodiles to China, shipping rice to the Philippines, and signing an agreement with Laos to facilitate the transit of agricultural goods դեպի China.
These initiatives form part of a broader strategy to streamline logistics and strengthen Cambodia’s position in regional supply chains, particularly in accessing the high-demand Chinese market.
Support Measures Boost Farmers and Production
To support farmers and improve productivity, the government has established 31 Modern Agricultural Communities across 14 provinces, focusing on six key crops. These communities have received nearly $16 million in bank loans at reasonable interest rates, along with $35 million in government-backed credit support.
In addition, approximately 1,600 commune-level agricultural officials have been deployed nationwide to provide technical assistance and help farmers better coordinate with markets.
Wide Range of Products Approved for China
Cambodia currently has approval to export at least 16 types of agricultural products to China. These include rice, dried cassava and corn; fruits such as bananas, mangoes, longans, coconuts and durian; as well as pepper, cashew nuts, sesame and basil seeds. Other exports include rubber, wild and farmed fisheries, and fish products.
Shift Towards Value-Added Exports
Ministry spokesperson Khim Finan has previously underscored Cambodia’s ambition to increase the value of its agricultural exports by promoting processing before shipment. The country is also seeking to diversify into new markets while strengthening its presence in existing ones, particularly China.
With these measures, Cambodia aims to build a more competitive and resilient agricultural sector in 2026 and beyond.
