Rural Development Bank needs to have at least $ 200 million in hand to stabilize the Cambodian rice sector

The Grassroots Democratic Party (GDP) welcomes the government to allocate $ 50 million to the Rural Development Bank to stabilize Cambodia's rice sector, albeit at a modest but good start.

The Grassroots Democratic Party sees that the Rural Development Bank now needs to have at least $ 200 million to help Cambodian businesspersons in rice industry with that existing $ 50 million plus an additional $ 50 million will be allocated by the Royal Government of Cambodia to the Rural Development Bank, totaling $ 100 million. As a result, the Rural Development Bank still needs to have another $100 million.

At the same time, the Grassroots Democratic Party demands that the money be distributed transparently to the rice millers and the farming community, in rice producers with the  low-interest.
Meanwhile, the Grassroots Democratic Party also hailed the government for transforming the Rural Development Bank into a rural and agricultural development bank.

GDP's policy states in Article 16 of their Green book that the government (led by GDP) institutes a National Agricultural Credit Program to provide loans to the producing farmers' communities with the interest of only 2% per year. Communities can use the loaned capital to build agricultural collected an dried vegetable stocks, and trucks for transporting agricultural products from members.

The community also uses this the loaded capital to extend its loan to members, with the loan amount up to 25 million Riel, at a rate of 0.5% per month (6% per year) and repayment period of up to 5 years.

Source of text (in Khmer) available at: Grassroots Democratic Party, GDP  

What is Smart Farming?

According to Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations, Smart Farming is a farming management concept using modern technology to increase the quantity and quality of agricultural products. Farmers in the 21st century have access to GPS, soil scanning, data management, and Internet of Things technologies. By precisely measuring variations within a field and adapting the strategy accordingly, farmers can greatly increase the effectiveness of pesticides and fertilizers, and use them more selectively. Similarly, using Smart Farming techniques, farmers can better monitor the needs of individual animals and adjust their nutrition correspondingly, thereby preventing disease and enhancing herd health.

Full Text is available at: https://www.schuttelaar-partners.com/news/2017/smart-farming-is-key-for-the-future-of-agriculture

Another Full Text is available at: Smart farming: This weed-hunting robot is taking to the fields  

The Price of Cambodia's cucumber have sharply dropped

Phnom Penh, November 30, 2019: Cambodian farmers who grow cucumbers this year work very hard to hopefully make a good money.

However, on their harvesting, the price is hopeless. One Cambodian Facebook user posted on his wall read:

how pity the cucumber farmers are! They worked day and night. Before harvesting, the price of the cucumber is between 2000 and 3000 Riels (Cambodian Currency) (about $0.50 and $0.75) per kilogram. On the harvesting, the price is sharply dropped. It is between 150 and 200 Riels (about 0.0375 and 0.050). How can they survive!

 

Local Voice

Grassroots Democratic Party, GDP announces its Facebook live talk show on management of national budget and allocation of the budget to help Cambodian farmers.

This talk is on Friday November 29, 2019
From 6:00 to 7:00 PM

Speaker: Dr. Koma Yang Saing, Chair of GDP's Steering Committee
Facilitator: Mr  Khat Sothy