Cambodia exported 17,000 tonnes of fresh Pailin longans to the Chinese market in 2023, marking a 454% increase compared to 2022, according to the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries.

Suos Siyat, president of the Pailin Longan Agricultural Production Cooperative, stated on January 8 that despite the increase in the country’s longan exports, the output was not significantly high.

He attributed this to unfavourable weather conditions such as salty or acidic dew, which adversely affected the product’s quality.

Siyat said water shortages were also a concern in some cultivation areas.

“It was not a universal issue, but some areas did face water source problems. When our product’s quality dropped, so did the prices, as brokers adjusted them based on the fruit’s appearance. The water shortage and dew conditions hindered the longans’ growth,” he explained.

He said that the price of the produce fluctuates based on its quality and harvesting period.

Despite having a market in China, he added that the cultivation of the fruit has not seen significant expansion.

“Regarding prices, they vary according to the company’s contract, which operates factories in Pailin province. For instance, from August to December, farmers receive 3,300 to 3,500 riel ($0.80-$0.85) per kg, and from January to March, the price rises to 4,000 riel ($0.98) per kg. This fluctuation is due to the fruit’s quality,” he added.

Siyat also mentioned that Pailin currently boasts nearly 4,000ha of cultivated and harvested land for the fruit.

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Reporter: Van Socheata
Publication date: 09 January 2024
Source: The Phnom Penh Post