Organic rice set to be exported to Germany and United States

The Phnom Penh Post – September 30, 2008

Written by Khouth Sophakchakrya

CEDAC says the plan would see more than 230 tonnes of organic rice exported, boosting incomes of rural farmers in Cambodia

Organic rice is an increasingly popular alternative for farmers. (Photo: AP)

THE Cambodian Center for Study and Development in Agriculture (CEDAC) will export more than 230 tonnes of organic milled rice to Germany and America, Yang Saing Koma, president of CEDAC, told the Post on Thursday.

The shipments would include 200 tonnes to Germany for Rickmers Rice in November and another 30 tonnes to America for the Lotus Food Co early next year.

“We now have more than 600 tonnes of organic milled rice to sell locally and to export to Germany and the United States,” Yang Saing Koma Koma said.

This year, CEDAC plans to buy about 2,000 tonnes of organic paddy rice, up from 1,200 tonnes it bought last year.
“We hope farmers will increase their production of organic paddy rice with market demand,” Yang Saing Koma Koma said, adding: “The price we provide to farmers is always 10 to 20 percent higher than the market price.”

Lim Virak, 45, a farmer in Prek Treng village in Prey Veng province said that in his village, organic paddy rice sold to other vendors at $250 per tonne, but his family and other villagers who sold to CEDAC received $300 per tonne.

“We expect CEDAC to provide a price that is about 20 percent higher than the market price,” Lim Virak said.
He said that he and other villagers have grown organic paddy rice since 2004, after CEDAC taught them organic farming techniques.

“I am very happy if farmers produce organic rice crops,” Phou Puy, president of the Rice Miller Association said.
“The organic husk rice is easier to sell, and sells at a higher price than husk rice that has been exposed to chemicals.”

Cambodia looks to nuclear power

Radio Australia, Australia – September 30, 2008

Cambodia’s government says the kingdom may develop its first nuclear power plant as early as 2020.

It says with hydropower and coal capacity expected to peak in the next decade, nuclear energy is the best option for the country.

A secretary of state for the Ministry of Industry, Mines and Energy, Sat Samy says Cambodia’s nuclear plans are in line with efforts by ASEAN to promote atomic energy among member states.

Asean energy ministers reached a joint agreement last year in Bangkok to pursue new sources of power for the region’s growing electricity needs.

Solve Thai-Cambodian disputes bilaterally: UN chief

The Nation – October 01, 2008
By Supalak Ganjanakhundee

New York

United Nations SecretaryGeneral Ban Kimoon has suggested that the border disputes between Thailand and Cambodia should be settled bilaterally, Foreign Minister Sompong Amornwiwat said yesterday.

The UN chief expressed this view to the foreign ministers of both countries while they and other colleagues from Asean met him on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly.

The ThaiCambodian border conflict was among the issues discussed, along with Burma’s rehabilitation following Cyclone Nargis.

The border dispute was brought to the UN attention’s when Phnom Penh sought to take the Preah Vihear temple issue to the UN Security Council in July. However, it was put on hold, as both sides have many bilateral mechanisms to handle such a conflict.

The UN chief said yesterday that using such bilateral mechanisms was the right way to settle the problem.

Prior to the meeting with Ban, Sompong and Cambodian Secretary of State Ouch Borith briefed an informal Asean ministerial meeting on the progress in settling the dispute. They needed to report to Asean, as Cambodia had put the conflict to the grouping during the ministerial meeting in Singapore in July.

Asean members also told Thailand and Cambodia to solve the problem bilaterally.

The two neighbours have been in conflict since Cambodia succeeded in having the Hindu temple of Preah Vihear listed as a World Heritage site, and angry Thai protesters in July forced the military to deploy troops in a standoff with Cambodia.

The previous government under Samak Sundaravej did, however, negotiate to redeploy troops in the areas to just 10 on each side of the disputed border area, and for 20 others on each side to be stationed further from the border.

“We told the Asean ministers that there is no longer confrontation, since previous negotiations manage to reduce the number of troops,” Sompong said.

The foreign minister said he would visit Cambodia shortly after the parliamentary session for policy announcement, due on October 78.

“I intend to visit Phnom Penh around the same time as I visit Laos, in order to pave the way for the new prime minister’s upcoming visit,” Sompong told reporters.

Prime Minister Somchai Wongsawat will visit Cambodia on October 13 to discuss the border dispute.

Sompong said his Cambodian colleagues wanted to bring other disputed areas, and particularly Ta Muen Thom temple, into the next discussions. Both sides claim sovereignty in the border area where the Khmer sanctuary is situated, namely Oddar Meanchey province in Cambodia, across the border from Surin province.

Cambodia also wants a third Hindu sanctuary, at Ta Kwai, to be discussed. However, Thailand has not yet added this to the agenda.