SOURCE: Khann Chanvirak, Khmer Times
Kampong Cham provincial governor Un Chanda said yesterday at a press conference the province has exported over 20,000 tonnes of fresh yellow bananas to international markets during the first six months of this year.
At the event held at the Council of Ministers, Mr Chanda said the province produces various types of Agro-industrial crops such as cassava, corn, cashew nuts, and rubber. The latest crop bananas are now being exported.
“Long Sreng exported 20,000 tonnes of their bananas to China and Vietnam. The fruits are planted on the 1,000 hectares stretch of land in Boeng Ket Loeu Village in Stung Trang district,” he said.
Heng Long, president of Long Sreng International Co Ltd, said in the first half of this year, 22,762 tonnes of bananas were exported; 14,414 tonnes to Vietnam and 8,348 tonnes to China.
“The company practises mixed farming as it cultivates 1,000 hectares of banana, 78 hectares of grapefruit, 240 hectares of longan, 145 hectares of durian and 125 hectares of jackfruit,” he said. “The plantation has its own nursery, storage, irrigation, and packaging facility.”
Provincial department of agriculture director Sim Tha Virak said growing bananas for export is difficult because if the company does not follow the standards set by the Agriculture Ministry and the countries importing them, they will not be successful.
Kampong Cham province has about 265,862 hectares of agricultural land and 66 percent of the population are farmers.