Alarm

As could be expected rice prices dropping tend to affect the rice industry itself rather than farmers directly. At least initially. And the current slump in prices is no difference, not in Cambodia.:

Disturbing news. Phnom Penh Post gives voices to the not so satisfied rice industry (Mar. 3):

'A newly formed coalition of rice millers and exporters has raised alarm bells, forecasting the imminent “collapse” of the nation’s rice sector within two years and blaming in part “governance failure” by the industry’s apex body'.

Infighting?

Not for long though. The Cambodian Rice Federation has got the message (Phnom Penh Post, Mar. 10):

'Responding to criticism, Cambodia’s apex rice industry body announced yesterday that it would submit a plan to Prime Minister Hun Sen that addresses two of the major challenges facing the Kingdom’s rice sector – competition from rice imports and access to finance for millers.

The Cambodia Rice Federation (CRF), which has come under fire from members critical of the direction in which the nation’s rice industry is being steered, will ask the government to make it mandatory for rice importers to have licences, and ask for its help in facilitating low-interest loans for millers, the federation revealed at a press conference yesterday'.

The Khmertimes (Mar. 17) has a similar article on the problems the Cambodian Rice Federation will put to the government:

'Two main issues will be put to the government when it holds an urgent meeting with the Cambodia Rice Federation (CRF) next week – a special fund package to help millers and exporters and a ban on imported rice from neighboring countries.
...
The special meeting was set up after complaints from the CRF outlined problems with a lack of funds to support production, imported rice from neighboring countries, the high cost of production, the high cost of logistics, the high cost of electricity, a lack of water, finding good seed stock, a lack of farm labor due to immigration and limited infrastructure and port storage facilities. The CRF claims that about 40 percent of the small- and medium-sized rice millers and exporters are close to stopping production and going bankrupt'.

The response of the government (Phnom Penh Post, Mar. 18):

'The Commerce Ministry has created a special taskforce to study challenges threatening the sustainability of the nation’s rice industry and will report its findings within two weeks, a ministry official said yesterday'.

Let's see what the government can come up with ...

Piloting

Besides the above (the main newsworthy items on rice production in Cambodia) what else topical has made the press? 
 

The Phnom Penh Post (Mar. 1) looks at the findings of an insurance programme on rice crops:

'A pilot project that offers micro-insurance to help rice farmers cope with the risks of flooding and drought is looking to build on the success of its first season by scaling up beyond three existing provinces. The Cambodia Micro Agriculture Insurance Scheme (CAMAIS), launched in the second half of 2015, aims to support local smallholder farmers by providing insurance payouts to those affected by severe weather-related events attributed to climate change. Rice farmers who join the scheme pay an insurance fee at the start of the growing season based on the size of their farm, type of paddy grown and technical tools used. In return, they receive consultation on farming techniques and get an insurance payout if their crop is damaged either by flood or drought.

...

According to Youssey [project manager of CAMAIS], 153 agricultural families joined the micro-insurance scheme during its first season, paying a total premium of $1,230 to insure 136 hectares of rice farms. At the end of the season, roughly 80 per cent of this collected capital was used to settle farmers’ claims, with the rest used to cover operational expenses and commissions for agents.

Around half of the rice farmers that purchased the crop insurance made compensation claims based on varying amounts of crop damage; however, only 52 of these claims met the criteria for receiving compensation, Youssey said'.

A lesson for all.

The Phnom Penh Post (Mar. 1) looks at the business of groundwater pumping. It's an increasing practice, exacerbating problems now the rains have been so poor.

'Extensive groundwater irrigation jeopardises access for shallow domestic water supply wells, raises the costs of pumping for all groundwater users, and may exacerbate arsenic contamination and land subsidence that are already widespread hazards in the regio, ...'.

On a sideline the Bangkok Post (Mar. 2) has one answer to the Thailand's water shortages: include local say of water management. 

 

Tractor politics as presented by Phnom Penh Post (Mar. 16):

'Local tractor dealers have reported strong sales of new equipment. Ngorn Saing, CEO for RMA (Cambodia) Co Ltd, exclusive local distributor of John Deere tractors, said his company sold about 300 tractors last year, a 30 per cent year-on-year increase. He projects similar growth in the coming year as farmers increasingly turn to mechanised farm help'.

Much is made of how tractors are assisting rice production. However it's probably cassava growing that's really pushing the sales. After all besides harvesting, there's very little use for tractors in small rice fields.

Sparks

Italians are afraid that Vietnamese interests will seek to grow and export rice from Cambodia bound for Europe using Cambodia's easy (and less costlier) access to the EU (Risoitaliano, Mar. 19). 

The article somehow makes a connection with what's coming from the Vietnamese press. Vietnamnetbridge (Mar. 10):

'However, Cambodian exporters can sell rice to the European market. The EU is the biggest consumer of Cambodian rice.
Why can Cambodia sell rice to the EU, while Vietnam, the second largest rice exporter in the world, cannot?
According to the Commercial Affairs Division of the Vietnamese Embassy in Cambodia, Cambodian businessmen can export rice to the EU because they can enjoy preferences'.

That said, the same source, 4 days later, warns of the threat posed by Cambodia as it gets better access to China. Though hardly having an impact on Vietnam's ability to export. So maybe not such a good source of info ...

The Mekongcommons (Mar. 17) has an extensive article on organic rice farmers in Surin, Thailand. Touching on the System of Rice Intensification and coping with climate change, it's a very read worthy article on pressures faced by rice farmers in the region and how to cope with these pressures.

The Bangkok Post (Feb. 27) notes that the recent auctions of rice are doing well.

And again, the Bangkok Post (Mar. 11) looks at the government programme of weaning Thai farmers off rice:

'Ms Prapatpon, 48, returned to school last month for a state-funded training programme designed to wean farmers off water-intensive rice and teach them how to grow other crops.

....

Going back to school was meant to give farmer ms Prapatpon fresh ideas and new strategies for survival on her farm in Chai Nat province. Instead, she said: "I can't apply any of this."

....

For farmer-turned-student Chaiyapoj Phak-on, the past two years have been a harsh contrast to the heady days of the previous government's income-propping rice-buying programme, which he called "the best time of my life." 

As usual there's more to be reported on politics and rice growing in Thailand. The Thai junta is in favour of an open society. As long as it toes the junta's line. From the Asian Correspondent (Feb. 24), this is the full article:

'THAI Prime Minister and junta head Prayuth Chan-ocha lost his temper at a Reuters journalist at Government House today, apparently over the news agency’s recent interview with former Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra.

The reporter asked Prayuth about the cost of the damage of the rice-pledging scheme, which was implemented by the previous government under ousted Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra – Thaksin’s sister.

Prayuth said the number had not been finalized yet and would be announced later.

Then sparks flew.

“Why? You really want it now? You must tell Reuters to say [write] better yesterday [Tuesday],” he snapped, according to The Nation.

He then abruptly left the podium for his upstairs office'.

In similar vein: trying the tried. The Bangkok Post (Feb. 26) has a wide article exploring all what's wrong with Thai agriculture and trying to put the blame with one person. 
Oddly it's the Thai Rice Exporters Association which is assisting with the accusations that the previous government sold rice to China at lower prices than pledged, then stocked the rice and re-pledged it again to itself. 
Surely those accountable would be brought to court, why than use it to blame just one person?

Something different. Riceberry? That's the name given to (mostly organic) dark rice. Thailand rice exporters:

'Rice Berry is a cross-bred unmilled rice possessing dark violet grain, which is a combination of Hom Nin Rice, with well-known antioxidant properties, and Thai Hom Mali Rice, also known as Thai Jasmine/ Fragrant Rice or KhaoDawk Mali 105. Rice Berry contains three times more iron than other varieties. And not only does it contain a high level of antioxidants such as beta-carotene, gamma oryzanol, vitamin E and folic acid (folate) in itself, it also becomes soft and is aromatic when itโ€™s cooked, which is the outstanding trait of Thai Hom Mali Rice'. 

The Bangkok Post (Mar. 1) has a recent vdo on growing and market possibilities of riceberry. 

Silde

It may be marginal news, but it's impacts are to be huge. We are talking about the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP).

What is the RCEP?  It supposed to be Asia's answer to the US-lead TPP. Does it serve the interests of Asian farmers? Grain.org (Mar. 17):

'Hot on the heels of the TPP, it is clear that RCEP will restrict seed saving and seed exchange at a time when, under the extreme pressures of climate change, farmers need more diversity in their fields, not less. Furthermore, it could increase their dependence on external inputs and raise their costs of production. Opponents of RCEP say that the trade deal could triple the current price for seeds.[iii] Trade agreements like RCEP should not give corporations monopoly rights over seeds, prevent farmers from saving seeds or promote GMOs—but that is what they do. These agreements are inherently biased towards the interests of corporate and political elites'.

That does not bode well for the future of small and sustainable (rice) farmers in the region.

Sam Mohanty on IRRI.org discusses rice prices and the dwindling of global rice stocks (Feb. 22):

'Despite the current stability in the rice market, there are reasons for concern about the direction of the market in the medium term (mid- to late 2016). The rice stocks of five major exporters (India, Thailand, Vietnam, Pakistan, and the United States) continue to slide since reaching a peak of nearly 41 million tons in 2013 (Fig. 1). According to USDA data, the biggest drawdown of stocks in these countries is underway this year, with a 40% drop from last year, to reach 19 million tons by late 2016'. 

A lot of this stock selling has come from Thailand which, in hindsight, has been providing the global market with a hoard of rice enabling prices to stabilize: public goods used for the good of the public. 

Naturally, the Thai government has seen little return on their stocks and it could be expected that they would dwindle away. Has any other entity stepped forward to possibly avert a rice price explosion? No. 

He concludes:

'With limited Thai rice stocks in the warehouse, it remains to be seen how major exporting and importing countries react to such uncertainty [causes of climate change and/or El Niño]'. 

One worrying impact for the immediate future: farmers in Southeast Asia will not be able to step up to the plate if prices rise due to drought. The lack of water impedes any potential to expand production.

So what about farmers elsewhere? 

But looking at this in the longer term, things look better than before the 2007 rice price explosion. The market is not dictated by Thailand (Vietnam and India have a substantial role), there are more upcoming exporters (Cambodia / Burma) and major importing nations such as Indonesia and the Philippines have better domestic responses.

Cuts

Phnom Penh Post (Mar. 15) has been tallying sugar exports and reveals that in line with expectations, Cambodia's exports to Europe will disappear:

'New figures show that Cambodia’s sugar exports to the European Union fell by 94.8 per cent between 2013 and 2015, amid accusations of rights abuses and land grabbing in the Kingdom’s industry.

...

Meanwhile, Am Sokha, case coordinator at the Community Legal Education Centre, which is also a member of the NGO coalition, said the trade decline sent a clear message to the Cambodian industry to clean up its act'.  

On the plus side. The drought in Southeast Asia is pushing global sugar prices higher (Bangkok Post, Mar. 10). That said with the drought there's little opportunity to raise output to take advantage of higher prices.

The Bangkok Post (Feb. 29) on rubber: 

'Thailand is seeking to boost sales after prices tumbled to an almost seven year low in January as slowing economic growth in China weakened demand from the biggest consumer. Along with Indonesia and Malaysia, Thailand agreed this month to cut shipments of natural rubber. Thailand has also agreed to buy rubber from growers at above-market prices'.

So with this concerted effort to protect rubber producers, it comes as no wonder that rubber exporters in Cambodia also receive assistance. 
Wrong.

The Phnom Penh Post (Mar. 7):

'Rubber producers said yesterday the government’s decision to amend the export tax scheme on natural rubber fell short of expectations and would do little to stem the losses of farmers as rubber prices hover near a six-year low'. 

At current prices, the tax amounts to a 5% levy, thus leading to pricing out of Cambodia's market.

Worse as reports the Phnom Penh Post (Mar. 17): 

'Cambodia's rubber industry’s woes have begun to crystallise after two major rubber plantations announced deep losses yesterday, attributing their downturn to high production costs and a drop in global rubber prices'.

In the meantime the past measures announced by Thailand seem at least in the short term to have pushed prices up, so reports the Bangkok Post (Mar.  7). However the short term gains may well lead to long term losses.

Cassava is leading the way. The Phnom Penh Post (Feb. 23):

'The tonnage of Cambodia’s agricultural exports increased by over 20 per cent last year, led by a surge in shipments of dried cassava chips, according to the latest Ministry of Agriculture data.

Total exports of 66 raw and semi-processed agricultural products – chiefly cassava, rice and rubber – amounted to 4.1 million tonnes in 2015, compared to 48 products with a total of 3.4 million tonnes a year earlier, the ministry said in its annual report on agricultural production.

...

Hun Ly Heu, director of cassava-exporting firm Drycorpkh Cambodia Co Ltd, said the fact that more farmers were selling their cassava despite falling prices was a sign of their desperation.

“Our market depends on orders from neighbouring countries and farmers could not wait for cassava prices to rebound due to their loan commitments,” he said, calling for the government to support farmers by setting a price floor on agricultural products'.

Bust to boom

Land politics in Laos: the case gone banana's. From the Southeast Asian Globe (Feb. 10) which reports on the province of Bokeo: 

'“The Chinese are renting 1,600 square metres of land for the equivalent of between $300 to $600 per year, which is roughly what the farmers would earn from this area if they cultivate the land. So they get the same amount but don’t have to work,” says Sompavong.

However, such deals always have their negative sides. For instance, the concession contracts usually do not specify that the investor has to clean up the land – often rice paddies – and return it to its previous condition after the contract ends'. 

However it's the accompanying massive use of pesticides which is proving a headache.

'Then, at the end of September, the Ministry of Agriculture and Forests warned four Chinese companies for “excessive use of pesticides” and ordered inspections on the types and amounts of chemicals used at some of the banana plantations. The revocation of business licences was threatened if laws continued to be contravened'.

This comes hot on the heels of another China induced crisis in northern Laos: that concerning rubber plantations. These plantations mostly seem to be a proxy for China land acquisition. 
Now with rubber prices hardly worth tapping the trees, banana's are seen as the way forward. But at the same unfair economical advantages such as buyers monopolizing the crop (as the crop can only get imported to China) local government collusion, etc. 
A good starter on what's wrong in the north of Laos needs heed and read the recent study Falling Rubber Prices in Northern Laos: Local Responses and Policy Options.

Devotion

Stoppable

During the past few weeks Thailand has been in the throes of drafting  a law to regulate the growing of Genetically Modified Organisms (GMO). 

Apparently there was a need to regulate the introduction of these as in the past GMO's have been introduced with little or no regard to the then non-existent government regulations.

The Bangkok Post describes the problem (Dec. 13):

'Two decades since the introduction of genetically modified organisms in Thailand, the country is still in a battle over the legalisation of such crops, as activists and farmers protest against draft legislation that would introduce a regulatory framework to allow for domestic GMO cultivation. 
But even without the new regulations, GM crops are already being grown across the country. Some experts point to government carelessness for allowing it to happen, while others say it is simply proof that the march of GM produce is unstoppable'.

It's a very interesting article which exemplifies the conundrum. With farmers growing papaya for export but unable to export to Europe as the EU refuses consignments with GMO grown contamination.

'Thailand currently has no laws controlling the research and study of GM crops. Recent laboratory tests of papaya samples confirmed that GM papaya had spread throughout many provinces across the country'.

As said there is no legislation on GMO other than that forbidding importation of seeds for all agricultural crops with the exception of soy beans intended for industrial use.  The new legislation would change this allowing imports and growing of GMO's while dictating the circumstances.
Naturally not everybody is happy:

'Visit Limlurcha, president of the Thai Food Processors’ Association, said the new biosafety legislation may have a severe effect on food exporters, as inspections will likely be extended to other products. “It will show that we accept GMO production, and it will be harder to differentiate GM from non-GM crops,” he said. “The government is sending a mixed message if they try to move forward with the bill, and at the same time promote organic crops'.”  

The Nation (Dec. 9) writes on the growing opposition in the run up to passing the new law:

'Consumer rights and organic farming advocates will rally at Government House today - and in 43 other provinces - to protest against the Biological Safety Bill, which will allow use of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) for commercial purposes.

...

He [Biothai official Kwanchai Muanying] said farmers were concerned most about the fact that the bill has no measures to prevent contamination.

...

Foundation for Consumers director Saree Aongsomwang wrote on Facebook that she and network members would certainly attend the symbolic protest at Government House against the bill, which she said had many weak points. They included allowing GMO plant production for commercial purposes and no punishment for biotech businesses whose products turn out to be environmentally harmful'.

A day later the Nation (Dec. 10) reports on farmers protesting the new proposed GMO legislation.  And consumers. And the (seed) industry?

'Taweesak Pulam, managing director of Thai Seed Research Co.,Ltd. , also voiced concern that GMO plants might affect exports to Europe and the US. He also said he was worried that multinational firms could monopolise local agriculture industries, and ordinary farming could become 2.5 times as expensive'.

Well, that's at least 1 player opposed ...

Then on the 16th the surprising news from the Nation: 

'These contrasting reactions came after Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha said yesterday Cabinet had agreed to withdraw the biological safety bill - the 'GMO bill' - from the drafting procedure. He said that even though there had been long debate on the bill since 1997, there was no use considering it further. 

...

Pornsilp Patchrintanakul, adviser to the Board of Trade and president of the Thai Feed Mill Association, said Thailand should have a GMO law to regulate and enhance the management of GMO plant production, as many GMO plants were already grown in the country, while there was nothing in place to regulate the import of GMO products.
"Thailand needs to look at why this law is necessary rather than say 'no' to it, because it would not lead to an influx of GMO products or plants. The NGOs were afraid, as many GMO products were already sold and grown in the country, such as papaya," he said'.

And then there are losers ..., (sections of?) the business sector are upset (Nation, Dec. 19):

'The agricultural business sector and academics have demanded that the government provide a proper explanation to society about its decision this week to shelve the biological safety bill'.

To be continued.

Facts and figures

Back on topic: the latest figures from Cambodia's rice production have been released (Phnom Penh Post, Dec. 8): 

'Cambodia’s total rice production this year will exceed 9.2 million tonnes, according preliminary estimates of rice harvested in 24 provinces and compiled by the Ministry of Agriculture'.

The Phnom Penh Post (Dec. 9) notes how not everything is going well when presenting facts and figures:

'New government estimates on this year’s rice production and forecasts for next year’s crop may be overly optimistic, industry experts say, factoring in the impact of a drought that damaged crops and is expected to carry over into the next dry season harvest.

The Ministry of Agriculture estimated that total rice production during this year’s wet season would top 7.17 million tonnes, edging up less than 1 per cent over last year’s harvest, while the coming dry season would see a 6 per cent drop in year-on-year production to 2.05 million tonnes'.

The Khmer Times has an article (Dec. 7) which emphasizes the need for production costs for Cambodian rice to drop. This as competition for exports is increasing (think Burma, think buyers market). 

As always it's a lot of of gibberish with government officials hoping production costs will go down, quality will go up as will selling prices. 

However, production costs in Cambodia at farm level are similar to the neighbours, it's post-harvest costs and government requirements that are hurting the sector.

Meanwhile there's a slight panic in the quest to export rice to China. From the Khmer Times (Dec. 13) :

'Hean Vanhan, a deputy general director at the ministry, said China had asked Cambodia to evaluate rice exporters to determine whether they adhered to hygiene laws in China because officials in the world’s second largest economy did not trust all of the 71 rice exporters registered with the Ministry of Commerce'.

The end of the rut?

While on the pricing at the start of the month, oryza.com (Dec. 1) quoting Thai sources suggests Thai export prices to lift if the dry conditions in the region and in particular Indonesia  remain.
Similarly Bloomberg mentions (Nov. 27) that due to expectations of lower harvests elsewhere, hoarding on a low level is starting to take place.

However whatever this might be the case, the prediction of rising prices seems to contradict UN's FAO's newest price overview (source) showing prices continuing to be flat. 

Spirits

Fancy winning the rights to buy rotten rice: Thailand has found some winners. Bangkok Post (Dec. 1). No names were published in the article ...

The Bangkok Post notes (Dec. 5) that the government are close to sealing a deal for 1 million tonnes with China: 

'The government is expected to sign a deal soon to sell an additional 1 million tonnes of rice to China'. 

The move comes after that country signed rice and rubber purchase deals with Thailand on Thursday as part of a Thai-Sino railway development agreement. Trains for rice?

The Thai government is in a confident mood so notes the Bangkok Post (Dec. 15)

'Commerce Minister Apiradi Tantraporn said Thailand already exported 9.29 million tonnes worth 148 billion baht as of last Tuesday. The ministry set a target to ship 10 million tonnes this year worth $5.1 billion, but the minister yesterday said actual shipments might reach 10 million tonnes but with a value of $4.85 billion'.

The government view for rice farmers. The Nation (Dec. 15):

'The rice industry must negotiate several risk factors that are pressuring farmers to speed up the development of rice breeds to strengthen the sector in the face of intense competition, especially from other Asian countries, the government says'.

An interesting article from the Nation (Dec. 7) which explores farming and poverty:

'Many rice farmers are facing the old problems of indebtedness and loss of farm owner-|ship despite short-term gains from the former government's rice-pledging scheme, accord-ing to research by a non-government organisation.

Pongtip Samranjit, executive director of Local Action Links, a non-profit think tank researching government policies and farmers' problems, said farmers' quality of life has plunged following the end of the rice-pledging scheme.

Increased indebtedness has led to the loss of farm ownership. Pongtip cited statistics collected by the organisation over the past 10 years that the number of farmers who hold less than six rai have increased, while those having to rent farmland have also risen in the past few years.

Pongtip said past and present government rice price intervention programmes, including the last rice-pledging scheme, offered farmers quick benefits as money would directly go to their pockets. But these were temporary, and never tackled the roots of farmers' problems, namely accumulated debts and loss of farmland'.

As rice  farmers are nearly always price takers, there's little scope that this perpetual movement detrimental to all those farmers will ever change. 
A farmer is always required to pre-finance his or her harvest and only under exceptional circumstances can he / she earn a major percentage of that harvest. 
Ergo, to improve their circumstances or their sustainability, the rural population will seek income elders thereby ensuring that economies of scale can improve while others may retain limited amounts of land for their own sustenance.
Whatever policy the government will develop rent-seeking will undercut whatever the benefits could be directly for farmers.

Slightly odd news. Tuoitrenews.vn has an article on ghost rice (Dec. 8). It describes a variety of rice which loses it's grains very easily. To prevent the rice from free fall, so to say, harvesting takes place at night using blinds and a canoe. And particularly Japan is interested in this rice:

'Dozens of Japanese researchers have visited Vietnam to collect samples of ‘ghost rice’ since 2006, with two of the researchers awarded doctorates based on their theses on the grain.

The Japanese Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries and the Japanese Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology have cooperated with the Mekong Delta Rice Institute in Vietnam for research into ‘ghost rice.’

Japan has no ‘ghost rice,’ and their scientists have been very enthusiastic about studying the wild rice, said Professor and Doctor Nguyen Thi Lang from the Mekong Delta Rice Institute.

Some research groups have visited Vietnam two or three times a year for their study.

“In an email, Japanese researchers showed me that the DNA of the ‘ghost rice’ in Vietnam is quite different from other species of ‘ghost rice’ in the world,” Prof. Lang said.

“And they are very happy about this discovery.”

The study of the genes of Vietnamese ‘ghost rice’ is to prepare for future climate change since the rice variety can adapt well to the natural environment, the academic explained'.

The same source has more on this variety of rice.

On track

Less on price developments this time, doesn't seem to be high in the press reports. Probably because there is a downward trend meaning that many of the soothsayers are yet on the wrong side of predictions ....

With the rains pouring down it's all about meeting targets. Vientiane Times (Sept. 3) notes the following:

'This year’s wet season rice crop is on track to reach 98 percent of the planned target if no more fields are flooded or affected in any other way'. 

Total output was hoped to reach 4 million tonnes.

Oddly enough the flooding occurring now in Thailand has yet to effect press reporting on rice statistics.

However Thai rice exports did hit a 3 year high. For July, so says the Nation (Sept 1). And though everybody seems upbeat, the higher volumes come at much lower prices ...

Lengths of Enthusiasm

The biggest news from Cambodia concerns non-news. Coming up in November: the World Rice Conference is set to take place in Phnom Penh. After winning prestigious prices for it's rice in years past, the Phnom Penh Post (August 28) reports on the decision for Cambodia:

'“Cambodia was chosen for its enthusiasm and efforts to develop export trade and raise its potential in high-quality rice markets, as well as for its excellent facilities in hosting the event,” said V. Subramanian, vice president of The Rice Trader'.

Meanwhile Cambodia's rice sector is to be boosted by increased storage under the name of Cambodia Rice Bank (CRB,  Phnom Penh Post, August 29): 

'CRB, which was established in Battambang province in 2011 but took years to build the necessary infrastructure like silos and storage sheds, emerged yesterday with $30 million in capital'.

Bidding for the Philippines has not brought much for Cambodia, yet. The Phnom Penh Post (September 5): 

'Despite failing in its latest attempt to win the Philippine government’s bid to import rice, Cambodia will once again throw its hat into the ring when the offer is reissued, industry representatives said yesterday'. 

Interesting is especially the comment on this article: 

'I am always amused whenever I see articles of Cambodian rice exporters claiming to be bidding in such international rice tenders that are rather meant for "Big League Exporters". When one sees the names of global trading firms involved in the bidding process coupled with all the technical terms & conditions imposed in the Filipino tender documents, one simply "know" Cambodia is far off from being at that level yet. Filipino tender documents require such complicated technical terms & conditions that none of the Cambodian rice exporters could even fulfill and meet'.

Troubling data? 

'European rice imports from least developed countries, mainly Cambodia, have soared 51 percent over the last year, a figure that Italy’s National Rice Agency has labeled “troubling new data” in its battle to have tariff-free exports scrapped.

...

Mr. Carriere [director of the Italian Rice Millers Association] said the National Rice Agency has drafted a dossier on Cambodia that it will submit to Italy’s Minister for Economic Development to organize an industry meeting to discuss protecting its rice sector'. 

The article (Phnom Penh Post, Aug. 28) is interesting especially to the non-answer from Cambodia.

Not all European companies view Cambodian rice imports as a threat. Oryza.com has an interview with Bart Rouwers of Alesie Food (July 29). Oddly the opportunities Alesie see are importing rice from Cambodia (sic) ...!

The Phnom Penh Post (Aug. 21) notes that the results of the agricultural census have been made public: 

'The 33-page report states that 2.2 million out of a possible 2.6 million or 85 per cent of all households are engaged in some form of agricultural-related activity, such as growing rice, raising livestock, fishing or extracting rubber.

Of that number, the census states that 1.9 million households are officially considered to have agriculture “holdings”, meaning they have at least two large livestock or three small livestock or 25 poultry or land equal to 300 square metres.

...

According to the preliminary census results, 73 per cent of all agriculture-related households operate only to serve home consumption, leaving 27 per cent who are reportedly selling their crops and livestock.

“This pointed out the dependence of the rural households on agriculture for food,” the report states, adding that on average each household has about four members.

Non-aromatic paddy rice is by far Cambodia’s largest crop, with 90 per cent of all holdings engaged in growing the cheaper variety.

“This was due to the fact that the cost of using non-aromatic paddy was not too expensive compared with the aromatic paddy/rice,” the report reasons'.

Seems strange as the local rice is also characterised as aromatic, not anymore ...?

The Cambodia Daily (Aug. 26) reports on upcoming innovations on how possibly farmers can get more up-to-date info.

'An international agriculture NGO is preparing to roll out a nationwide project in partnership with computer-chip maker Intel whereby more than 25,000 farmers will be able to receive real-time advice on farming methods via a smartphone app'. 

As the programme will also be handing out smartphones themselves, no doubt it will prove very successful until their stock runs out ...

Committed

Strange as it may seem, but there is just the one article on the Thai rice pledging scheme. Information has been weaned from the Thai government, apparently sample's are not up to what ever grades required:

'The inspection found that only 235 rice samples out of 1,339 samples tested from July 7-31 passed the standard quality, said the document distributed on Friday evening.

The rest failed to meet the standard because it was apparent the colour was "wrong", the samples went bad or were damaged by pests, or were mixed with cheaper grains, among other things'.

In other non-rice news, Asiaone reports (August 28) on Vietnam Rubber Group's rubber investments in Lao P.D.R. and Cambodia. After being globally shamed they are now putting into place a systems through which affected communities can complain and their complaints can be addressed. Global Witness gives this system 2 years to prove itself.

 

The same story is carried by the Phnom Penh Post (August 23). It adds:

'David Pred, managing director at Inclusive Development International, which advocates for displaced communities, said via email Friday that another Vietnamese rubber giant, the privately owned Hoang Anh Gia Lai (HAGL), had also agreed to some concessions.

HAGL, which is also partly funded by the World Bank and also accused by Global Witness of illegally clearing forests and displacing communities, recently went under the microscope of the IFC ombudsmen, who is now mediating negotiations between the company and affected communities.

“Company representatives have told us and the communities that they recognize that they have made mistakes and are committing to correct them,” Mr. Pred said.

“However, we are waiting to see whether this commitment will really be translated into the return of community land and sacred areas that the HAGL concessions illegally confiscated.”

Eang Vuthy, executive director at Equitable Cambodia, which has lobbied for the displaced communities, said that for some, there is no compensation that could be adequate.

“It is difficult to compensate. These are indigenous people and they have a different way of living, a different culture,” Mr. Vuthy said.

“Burial grounds and spirit forests cannot be replaced. And it also must be said, what they have done is illegal.”'.

Rubber is also in the news in Thailand (Bangkok Post, August 26). With dropping prices farmers are starting to despair. One of the problems is the Thai government selling their stocks probably before prices drop further. But naturally this means that prices will head downwards due to the sale itself, a self-fulfilling proficiency? Farmers typically want more. As most rubber is down in the unrestive south, it seems the treatment of these farmers is better than those of the north dependent on rice ...

In Laos research has been presented concerning contract farming. The Vientiane Times (Sept. 1):  

'Results demonstrated that contract farming is a strategy with potential to modernise agriculture and reduce rural poverty in Laos.

...

In some cases, contract farming in Laos reduced rural poverty. For instance, contract farming contributed to poverty reduction by about 12 percent in the maize case and by 170 percent in the bananas case.

Meanwhile, commercialised large-scale agricultural investments are likely to deteriorate land resources in the future. Unless appropriate measures are in place, the economic gains from contract farming in Laos may not outweigh the economic costs to the country.

Director General of NERI Dr Leeber Leebouapao told Vientiane Times on Friday that he was very concerned about the herbicides used in contract farming, fearing that overuse of chemical substances would impact people's health and the environment'. 

So not so positive ...