The Cambodia-Australia Agricultural Value Chain (Cavac) programme on August 25 released a study identifying nine high-value crops with strong export potential in China, the EU, ASEAN, Australia and New Zealand.

The agricultural products highlighted in Cavac’s “Market for Cambodian Crops with Promising Prospect” report are avocados, chillies, sesame seeds, sweet potatoes, longan, mangoes, cashew nuts, palm sugar, and a dried banana chips.

It is well recognised that Cambodia is generally not able to compete with its neighbours on the basis of volume and economies of scale, so the Kingdom must have a keen sense of market niches in which it can prosper.

While efforts to increase productivity are important, perhaps, a strategic way for Cambodia to expand its agricultural exports is by identifying products with high market demand, or offering more value.

This is illustrated in the study, commissioned by the Australian government-funded Cavac.

The research digs deep into data such as global market size and growth potential, consumer preferences for varieties, sanitary and phytosanitary measures, and other non-tariff barriers to trade, product utilisation (fresh or processed), key competitors and potential windows of opportunity. Exporting challenges of these crops are also explored.

Australian ambassador to Cambodia Pablo Kang has been a long-standing partner in agricultural development, providing assistance to raise the Kingdom’s production capacity, improve farming practices, and advance research and development.

The Australian mission focuses on agriculture, recognising the huge amount of unlocked potential and the value that modernisation and improved productivity in the sector creates for the Cambodia, according to Kang.

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Author: Thou Vireak

Source: The Phnom Penh Post

Publication date: 25 August 2021