(1) Though small, our country strives to pass benefits of agricultural exports to farmers
I would like to express my appreciation to the leadership and officials at all levels of the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries for their efforts in promoting this sector. Minister Dith Tina just spoke about the achievements that have allowed us to move forward year by year. Agriculture does have challenges — it is not without challenges. Global changes, particularly, have caused fluctuations in the prices of individual agricultural products, unlike industrial products where we can often guarantee higher prices. Our country is small, and we strive to pass the benefits of agricultural exports — in terms of both volume and price — to our farmers. If we have products but cannot export them, our 17 million citizens cannot consume them all domestically. For example, we produce 12 million tons of rice per year, but with a population of 17 million, we only consume about five or six million tons. We must ensure markets to sell the remaining half […]
(2) Seeking markets means finding gateways and creating opportunities for farmers’ agricultural produce
The Royal Government, especially the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries acting as an assistant to the Royal Government, has worked hard to negotiate and open various gateways in the past. The work that this assistant to the Royal Government strives to do is to serve our farmers. Seeking markets is not for the state or for agricultural officials; rather, seeking markets is about finding gateways to create opportunities for farmers’ produce to reach the market. Certainly, farmers cannot go and sell directly to companies in China, America, or Europe. However, because markets exist there, orders are placed through supply chains that reach our farmers. Each negotiation is no small feat. Negotiating to open up products is no different from [buying and selling agricultural produce within] our country […]
(3) Once produced, we must seek markets, offer incentives, create appeal, and guarantee quality
Even within the country, it is not guaranteed that once we produce something, a market will exist for it; we must go out and seek [a market to] sell, offer incentives, create appeal, and provide various quality guarantees. Particularly, some buyers have high requirements. For example, bird’s nest, we export it to China. It took years of negotiation to succeed — about four to five years, as I recall. Every country has its own standards. They do not just allow any imports, especially food products, because they are concerned about the health of their citizens. If there is excessive chemical use or if phytosanitary standards are not met, they will not allow the product to enter, fearing the introduction of diseases. We must provide guarantees and negotiate clearly, and we must follow up closely until we succeed with each product, such as our durian, fish, freshwater and saltwater products, and our aquaculture […]
(4) RGC released $60 million to assist rice mills in purchasing rice from farmers
Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen, citizens [may ask] the Ministry of Agriculture as to why we do not seek [markets] for products that have already been produced. We do seek them, and we work hard to negotiate, but markets fluctuate. In some years, rice is expensive [due to] the El Niño phenomenon, [which makes] cultivation less productive. Two years ago, the price of rice rose, but the following year, when India released its stocks, [the price] fell. We have been working to find ways [to stabilize the price of rice]. To help stabilize it, the Royal Government released tens of millions of dollars to rice mills. Last year, we released approximately $60 million to intervene and help rice mills purchase rice from our farmers. This is the reality. When rice prices rise or when there is dry-season rice cultivation and a water shortage, the Ministry of Water Resources intervenes to ensure (that you receive your yield) […]
(5) State measures aim to ensure that citizens keep more money in their pockets
Therefore, once markets are available, we strive to ensure that prices remain balanced. They fluctuate, but we work hard to manage them well. The goal of product assurance is to ensure that citizens keep more money in their pockets. We work hard to find [markets], lower the costs of raw materials and production, improve transportation routes, and connect electricity so that people can use electricity rather than fuel. We also lower the price of (electricity used for) water pumping by Électricité du Cambodge and do not tax agricultural land, agricultural products, or many types of agricultural equipment; these are all parts of the interventions the Royal Government — through the Ministry of Agriculture and relevant ministries and institutions — (has provided as assistance to farmers so far) […]
(6) Opening land routes to the Chinese market via Laos for agricultural products from the northeastern and northern regions
I would like to express my appreciation, especially for the negotiations to open additional routes. This year, we negotiated the opening of a land route with China via Laos for the first time. Previously, we only transported [goods] to the Chinese market by water. Now, we can transport agricultural products via land straight up to China. Planning for connectivity, particularly in our northeastern and northern regions, ensures [that] agricultural products [have an export route] through this land route without the need to transport them down to Phnom Penh and then export them through Vietnam. This means opening additional gateways. This is all part of the negotiations to open [gateways to markets] to ensure the long-term sustainability of our products. Certainly, negotiating to open gateways takes a long time, but we successfully opened them. However, by opening these gateways, we achieve sustainability and provide long-term assistance to our farmers and fishers. I request the (relevant) ministries to continue their efforts to ensure we can export even more products to expand market potential for our farmers […]
(7) The state strives to serve the people, though things do not go as one may wish
These efforts are done to connect both the capabilities and the livelihoods of our citizens, but not for the sake of Minister Dith Tina. I do not believe Minister Dith Tina has 10,000 hectares of rice fields for export [production]. The state serves the people, and we are working hard. Sometimes things do not go as we wish, but please be understanding. I want to highlight that this is what we have been working on. Sometimes, like with negotiations that take 3 – 4 years, we cannot hold a press conference every time we negotiate. It is true that our citizens may not know how hard government officials and technical staff work to open markets for each individual product. The fact that we have opened this gateway is a real success. Let me repeat that these efforts to open these gateways are for no one else but our citizens, our farmers, and our fishers […]
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(8) Fishers and fishing communities urged to help prevent illegal fishing during the spawning season
I would like to take this opportunity to express my appreciation and high regard for all relevant ministries and institutions, especially the Fisheries Administration, the capital-provincial authorities, and all armed forces, who have worked hard to prevent all illegal fishing activities during the spawning season in order to conserve natural resources and fisheries. I urge fishers and communities, particularly, to contribute to this conservation effort. This work is important, especially during this spawning season, the closed fishing season, which we have divided into three zones. The first is Stung Treng province, which began on May 1. Next is the northern zone, which we closed from June 1 until September 30; this includes Kampong Chhnang, Pursat, Battambang, Pailin, Banteay Meanchey, Oddar Meanchey, Siem Reap, Kampong Thom, Preah Vihear, Ratanakiri, Mondulkiri, Kratie, Tboung Khmum, Kampong Cham, and parts of Phnom Penh and Kandal to the north of the Chaktomuk confluence. The third phase begins on July 1 — meaning starting today — when we close the fishing lots. The closed fishing season during the spawning period for Prey Veng, Svay Rieng, Takeo, Kampong Speu, and parts of Phnom Penh and Kandal provinces, which are to the south of the Chaktomuk confluence, is also important […]
(9) Four-month fishing closure to allow for increased fish populations and distribution
Why do we close (fishing) for these four months? There are two benefits. First, it is the spawning season. If we catch one mother fish full of eggs, it is equivalent to killing thousands of fish. Second, if we catch them, only those in the area with fishing lots where the fish spawn benefit. Most [fish] enter the fishing lots in the upper region of Siem Reap, and those downstream do not get any. Over the past two years, I have ordered the Royal Cambodian Army to deploy forces to assist the Fisheries Administration and the authorities that have (previously performed operations to crack down on various offenses) because the scale of fishing has increased, especially illegal fishing.
The use of fishing equipment has become increasingly modern, particularly electrofishing – hot and/or cold, or (destructive) nets. The other day, there were people who incited hundreds of citizens to go electrofishing […] Just like in the past, there were those who incited (people) to seize land — “Go seize it, if you succeed, take it to sell”. Now, those same instigators are telling citizens to go electrofishing. If they succeed in shocking [fish], the instigators would buy from them, and it continues like that. However, if they face the law, it is the citizens who face the law, while [the instigators] get away. Now, we must find and arrest those who incite citizens (to cause) problems so to protect our fisheries […]
(10) “Better to have abundance and low prices so everyone can survive than to have no fish and high prices”
Over the last two years, due to this conservation and prevention, (it is observed that the) fish population has increased. The only problem is that fish prices have gone down. Now, fishers say that fish are more abundant but that prices have dropped; if the fish were abundant and still expensive, that would be better, just like when they were scarce. But it does not work that way. Anything that is abundant and plentiful will naturally drop in price. We must share the livelihood. I ask the teachers here: “Have you gone fishing? You use your salary to buy fish”. If fish are cheap and abundant, is that not good? So, even if there are one or two million fishers, when fish prices rise or fish are scarce, everyone suffers. When fish are scarce, even fishers in provinces along the river cannot find fish, and for buyers, they are expensive. Therefore, I say it is better to have an abundance of fish and for the prices to be low so everyone can survive, rather than having no fish and prices go up, right? I ask for understanding, especially (to not engage in) electrofishing or going into the fishing lots (to fish), because during the spawning season — especially if those spawning fish are caught upstream — there will be no fish flowing downstream for those in the lower regions […]
(11) Once fish have spawned and traveled downstream, aquaculture activities should also be promoted
Yesterday, I met with H.E. Prak Sophoan (Governor of Siem Reap province) and asked about the fish situation there. He said that fish populations have increased over the last few years, and the citizens are happy. However, Siem Reap province is “unlucky” because it is at the very end (upstream). When fish spawn, they go upstream, but once they hatch and grow, they all swim back downstream. Therefore, those who benefit are in Kampong Chhnang, Pursat, and other areas downstream. I want people to consider, however, that we cannot forbid the fish, nor can we implement traffic laws or issue a decree stating that once they spawn, they must stay there and not swim anywhere else; that is impossible, and we cannot build a barrier of kilometers long. Instead, we should promote aquaculture and community-based activities there. As for other fish that spawn there, when they return downstream, (there will be enough) to share. It is the same here (as upstream); the problem is for those who are downstream. It is just like water; in the last few days in Kampong Thom, there have been discussions about water distribution between farmers upstream and those downstream. Therefore, we must find ways to share in order to survive, such as finding ways to rotate hours or times (for water use) […]
(12) “Tonle Sap is a source of fish — do not let there be a lack of fish to eat, and/or the need to import fish, and/or fish are expensive”
It is the same with fish. If we do not protect this spawning season, when the eggs are upstream and we catch them all, those living downstream will be even more destitute. One mother fish can produce hundreds or thousands of offspring to share among the 17 million people who need to eat. Therefore, I ask for understanding in the implementation of these enforcement measures. Citizens who go to fish in the fishing lots or use shockers also need to support their livelihoods, but those 17 million people need protein from reasonably priced fish. Thus, we must allow (fish) to be abundant so we can all survive together. In the closed fishing lots, while fishers can go outside (to fish), the inside must be protected thoroughly to provide for the 17 million people. I am not talking about exports here; I am talking about ensuring internal food security. We must not let our country, which has the entire Tonle Sap as a fish source, become a place where there is no fish to eat, where we have had to import fish, or where fish are expensive. (There must be) plenty of prahok fish and other varieties. This is the principle of conservation. It cannot be successful if the Royal Government acts alone. It requires participation, especially from our fishing communities and our fishers […]
(13) Adjusting legal standards regarding fishing by considering the livelihoods of fishers and fishing communities
We are currently making adjustment — not just for conservation, but also to our legal standards and laws, as well as adjusting gillnet mesh sizes — to allow fishers to reduce (mesh size) from 3 centimeters to 2.5 centimeters, with flexibility according to whether fish are abundant or scarce. We leave this for the Ministry to examine so that we can protect, particularly, our fishers — ordinary people — and not companies. Companies must comply with the law, but we cannot allow companies or those with the means to operate on a large scale to collect everything and leave nothing for small-scale fishers. We must prioritize small-scale fishers. Therefore, this conservation is to ensure that everyone receives a greater yield. Fishers who only use gillnets or other small gear will be able to cast them. We are considering other mesh sizes accordingly. Previously, this law was issued but not implemented due to issues regarding mesh sizes, as they did not align with actual conditions. Therefore, please examine this, but ensure that the livelihoods of the people and communities are considered, and I ask for your participation and help […]
(14) Finding a formula to increase local capacity and the capacity of professional officials to manage fishing areas, rather than stationing the army
Please look at clam dredging. Each time they dredge, they take 30 to 40 tons, dragging both small and large (creatures), destroying everything. I ordered the Royal Cambodian Army stationed at the Tonle Sap to go out and work. For these past two years, the Royal Cambodian Army has been cracking down on natural resource offenses, both on water and on land, and they have also been deployed to protect our borders and our territory. By joining the Fisheries Administration, other authorities, and communities to work together, we are looking for a sustainable formula. We do not want to use the army or additional forces (indefinitely). We are looking for a formula where everyone takes responsibility. In the future, when communities have sufficient capacity and local authorities can help with protection, we will not need them. Currently, we are short on manpower, and combined with the fact that these offenses are more frequent than before, we need the army’s forces. However, as I said, we must find a formula where, in the future, we can increase local capacity and the capacity of professional officials to manage (the areas), rather than tying the army down in the water. The army has many other duties to perform […]
(15) Preventing and cracking down on fishing offenses by respecting the interests of majority of the population
The Royal Government has issued an order to examine this work, but we must ensure that the interests of the people are prioritized. There are two types of public interests: those of the minority and those of the majority. We must prioritize majority of the people. Those with the means to operate on a large scale — those with the capacity to cause high-level destruction to fish stocks — are few, and they must be cracked down on if they violate the law. This is to protect livelihoods and protect our water basins so that there are more fish; when the fish in those lots spawn and grow, and the water levels rise, they will spread out to be shared throughout the country. H.E. Prak Sophoan, please do not try to stop the fish from swimming downstream. It is impossible to stop them, as the Tonle Sap Lake is too vast. This is the work we are doing in relation to these fisheries […]
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(16) Conservation not only helps increase existing fish populations but also protects and increases endangered fish species
If we do not undertake this work (to protect and conserve the Mekong River dolphins), some dolphins could go extinct. Even regarding fish, if you ask the forces on the ground, some fish that were near extinction are now abundant again. Therefore, this conservation is important; it not only helps existing fish populations grow, but it also helps protect endangered fish from extinction and allows their numbers to begin to recover, whether they are freshwater dolphins or certain fish species […]./.
