Cambodia Secures Major Rice Supply Deal: Local Farmers and Food Processor Forge Partnership

Two agricultural communities in Banteay Meanchei province and one business group from Battambang province have signed a contract to produce and supply approximately 7,202 tons of rice, including the fragrant 'Sen Kro Ob' variety and SRP-standard rice, as well as fodder rice, to the Khmer Food Group company. The contract signing ceremony took place on the afternoon of September 9, 2026, at the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries of Banteay Meanchei Province, under the auspices of H.E. Dith Tina, Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries. The production will be carried out on a total land area of 1,926.5 hectares, involving 406 farming families. The 'Sen Kro Ob' rice is a light, non-seasonal rice variety that was purified and released by the Cambodian Agricultural Research and Development Institute (CARDI) of the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries in late 2019. The 'Sen Kro Ob 01' rice variety has successively won gold medals from China due to its unique characteristics, such as its fragrant aroma, good rice quality, long and smooth grains, and delicious soft cooked rice. Previously, the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries has encouraged farmers to turn to cultivating the 'Sen Kro Ob 01' rice variety because it yields high productivity and, notably, commands a high price in both domestic and international markets.